A turf cutting ceremony to mark the start of building work on the new Welland Primary School in Peterborough will take place on Wednesday 7 September.

Councillor John Holdich, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and University, will be at the ceremony along with headteacher Giles Civil, pupils and representatives of main contractor Kier Eastern, which is building the new school.

The new school will replace the existing primary school which is in urgent need of modernisation and will also create much-needed additional school places. Included will be a number of low carbon features and innovative environmental technologies such as a green sedum roof system, rainwater harvesting and sustainable heating using a biomass boiler. Photovoltaic solar panels will allow the school to produce its own energy.

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Councillor Holdich said: "This is an important milestone in the development of this school which has been in desperate need of renovation for some time. The new buildings will transform the learning environment for pupils and teachers and will offer pupils and the wider community the first class facilities which they deserve.

"This council is very committed to investing in state-of-the-art school facilities for children and young people to help them unlock their full potential."

The new school will include additional teaching classrooms, a larger school hall and additional space so that the number of pupils on-roll can double to 420. Outside there will be landscaped areas to enhance outdoor learning and a grassed area to include a football pitch and a hard surfaced games area. It will be built on the school's playing field so that the existing school can continue to operate as usual. Once the new school is built, the old buildings will be demolished and replaced with a playground and playing fields.

The new school will be ready for the start of the new term in September 2012.

(CD)