After 59 years standing proud on the edge of the town and welcoming generations of youngsters through the gates, Vane Road Primary School in Newton Aycliffe will reach the end of an era.
Head teacher Kieran Pavey is opening the school gates to the original school one last time during a special open day this week.
He’s inviting the community, students and colleagues past and present to walk the corridors and relive some old school memories before the school is set to be demolished to make way for a vibrant, new facility.
The primary school was successful in its bid to the Department for Education to be renovated through the Priority Schools Building programme in 2014.
The decision was made to rebuild the school which opened in 1959 in order to create a modern, efficient environment where children can learn and grow now and in the future.
Almost 400 students will start the new academic year in the £5.5m, purpose-built facility this September, which sits just behind the existing school building.
The redevelopment which has been managed by Kier Construction has taken 14 months with work still ongoing to remove the old school and landscape the school grounds, and is expected to be completed by April 2019.
Mr Pavey, said: ‘We are all extremely excited to be moving in to the new building.
“The team have worked incredibly hard to ensure a smooth transition for our students and we look forward to welcoming them all in September.
“We have some great plans in place to mark the opening of the school which will be announced soon.
“We hope the community will join us for one last visit to the old school before the builders take over and begin demolition.”
‘Goodbye Vane Road’ will take place on Friday (August 17), visitors can attend anytime between 10am–5pm. For more information please visit the school’s Facebook page.