Work
commenced in advance of financial close of the contract so that
the schools could meet the programmed dates for hand over; in
sync with term start dates. One of the prerequisites of the DfES
was that at least one school should be handed over by 1st April
2004. Thornhill Primary was the first school to be completed handed
over by the beginning of April 2004.
Winterhill School (formerly known as Old Hall Comprehensive) was
the first secondary to be started and over the summer break oin
2004 a significant 'village' of temporary classrooms were created
so that virtually two-thirds of the school could be decanted at
the commencement of the autumn term. This allowed for a major
portion of the school to be demolished so that phase 1 of the
programme could commence.
The photograph shows the inauguration of the
build programme with a stone-laying ceremony at Thornhill Primary
School. Accompanying some of Thornhill's pupils are Councillor
Georgina Boyes and Kevin Donegan from the Rotherham Schools Joint
Venture.