The new teaching block at Woldgate School has already had an ‘overwhelmingly positive’ reaction
An East Yorkshire school has officially unveiled its new teaching block marking a major step in its redevelopment journey. Guests at the opening event at Woldgate School, in Pocklington, were treated to a guided tour of the state-of-the-art, three-storey building, which has recently welcomed 1,200 students who moved in a few weeks ago.
The response from students has been “overwhelmingly positive”, with many praising the bright, modern spaces that have already improved their learning experience. The new building replaces the original school buildings and offers a dynamic, inspirational environment designed to foster academic excellence and wellbeing.
It boasts spacious classrooms, cutting-edge science laboratories, a large assembly hall and a dining area complete with a fully-equipped kitchen. Each space optimises natural light, with many rooms providing views of the surrounding countryside.
The redevelopment also includes a newly built multi-use games area and an upcoming sports hall, ensuring students have access to top-notch facilities for physical education and extracurricular activities. The project, part of the School Rebuilding Programme and delivered through the Department for Education’s CF21-25 HVB Framework, is designed to be net zero carbon in operation (NZCiO), incorporating low embodied carbon materials and extensive photovoltaic solar panels.
East Riding Of Yorkshire Council has also made a significant contribution to the project, funding furniture, equipment and facilities that will benefit both the children and wider community.
Luke Sloman, head teacher at Woldgate School, said: “We can already see the positive impact this new building and excellent facilities are having on both pupils and staff. It is wonderful for the local community that our school now has a building and facilities that reflects the high-quality education and care we provide our students, and I know they are thrilled to use these fantastic facilities. The collaboration with contractors has also provided invaluable learning opportunities for our children.”
David Wingfield, managing director at Wates Construction East, said: “We are proud to have worked alongside the Wonder Learning Partnership to deliver a facility that has truly reimagined what a learning environment can be. This project reflects the commitment to our purpose – reimagining places for people to thrive – and we are confident it will inspire and support students for generations to come. My sincere thanks go to the site team for their exceptional work and to the school for their collaboration and support throughout the works.”
The project also contributed significant social value, including over 83 hours of curriculum support, employability workshops and work experience placements for students. Local unemployed individuals received 50 hours of career mentoring and CV guidance, resulting in 15 new jobs for residents.