Bracken Edge Primary School - New building opened by Fabian

Fabian opens the wonderful new buildings at Bracken Edge Primary School

Friday 3rd April 2009

The long awaited substantial rebuilding of Bracken Edge Primary School was celebrated with an official opening by Fabian Hamilton MP. The school is situated next to Potternewton Park in Chapeltown and serves an ethnically diverse community. The rebuilding of the school has been funded and managed by Leeds City Council - so is not a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) project- and shows how local authorities can manage the delivery of major projects for the benfit of local communities.

Bracken Edge Primary School is now truly an inspirational place to learn, with good, well-equipped class rooms and other facilities. Well done Leeds and good luck to all the children who will be learning at Bracken Edge. Last but not least, mention must be made of all the staff of the school who have kept going during all the reconstruction. Fabian thanks them all sincerely for working so hard.

Fabian has been involved with this reconstruction project since elecetd as MP in 1997 and even before that when he chaired the Education Committee in Leeds City Council. He worked closely with the previous Headteacher, Gill St Quintin, and pressed the then Education Secretary, David Blunkett ten years ago for a brand new school.

Pictures of a memorable day

Well there has to be a ribbon to cut at an official opening but on this occasion nothing was left to chance and with so many to help there was no risk that Fabian would not be able to open the doors to the new building.
	Bracken Edge Primary School is a rainbow multicultural community and to show just how many nationalites are represented, children staged this display of flags at the opening ceremony to celebrate their diversity. If you look carefully you can see the flags of Eritrea, Syria, France, Gambia, Greece, Kenya, South Africa, the USA and Spain and two further as yet unidentified ones at the back of the picture.
Being a visitor was no excuse - Fabian had to join the judo group practising in the magnificent new sports facilities that have been created in the school. The challenge was rather more daunting than any Westminster tussle!
	Everyone was friendly really and Fabian enjoys the company of these young athletes after the demonstration.
It was a proud day for the Headteacher Julie Harkness and the Chair of the Governors Alan Moore seen here talking with Fabian during the reopening.