Local Hexham MP Guy Opperman alongside local Hexham Councillors Trever Cessford and Cath Homer have welcomed the opening of two new schools.
Pupils from Queen Elizabeth High School and Hexham Middle School returned to school on Monday following the building Contractor GallifordTry delaying the completion of the building works due to Coronavirus restrictions earlier in the year.
Over £37m has been invested in the project, which includes both the middle and high school, a 3G pitch, new six and two-court halls and separate external multi-use games areas.
Feeding off the iconic, Grade-II listed Hydro building, which has been fully refurbished due to funding from the Department for Education, is the new middle school and high school buildings, forming a cloistered quadrant at the heart of the site, using reclaimed materials from the walled garden.
The rebuild follow a long-standing campaign by Guy Opperman and the Conservative Group on Northumberland County Council to ensure fairer funding goes to Tynedale’s schools. The campaign has resulted in every High School in the Hexham Constituency being rebuilt since Mr Opperman’s election in 2010.
In 2013, Mr. Opperman brought the Schools Minister David Laws to the site and kickstart the campaign and ‘Invest in QEHS’.
Guy Opperman MP said:
“I am very proud that after a long campaign from myself, Cllr Cath Homer and Cllr. Trevor Cessford, full new rebuilds of Queen Elizabeth High and Hexham Middle Schools are now complete. These new school buildings are phenomenal and will add real value to children’s education in Tynedale.”
Cath Homer, Cllr for Hexham East said:
‘’This will make a massive difference to education locally.
One of my main pledges when I was elected was to secure a full rebuild of Queen Elizabeth High School, and I am delighted it has been delivered by our Conservative County Council.”
Trever Cessford, Cllr for Hexham Central and Acomb said:
“I am delighted! After a very difficult last 18 months for our children, I am delighted we have managed to ensure their education will be even better in this new academic year.’’