We have successfully delivered St Luke’s C of E Primary School with minimal disruption and ready for the new academic year.

Our project team worked tirelessly with the children's interests at heart throughout. A close relationship with LLEP, Leeds City Council and school stakeholders was also key to the success of the project. The implementation of robust practices and procedures meant the site was able to continue to operate safely throughout CV19.

We were able to negotiate and adapt during lockdown to allow construction work to run alongside the school providing childcare for children of key workers. This was incredibly important for the client and a significant achievement for the project team. A range of zones were set up to allow work to continue in line with the government guidelines. Each trade was allocated a bubble allowing them to work safely in different areas.

The site team continued to support the children where they could, including creating a start/finish banner for their daily 1-mile run, running weekly visits within a segregated viewing area and delivering a careers presentation making them aware of potential hazards on-site.

The children can now enjoy a new, modern outdoor playground with a range of equipment. The school also now has an autism resource provision and a specialist arts space, in addition to renovations to the existing school, featuring a new kitchen and a hall expansion.

Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Executive Member for Learning, Skills and Employment, Leeds City Council said: “The developments at St Luke’s C of E Primary are a wonderful addition to the school and offer fantastic new resources for all the children to enjoy and benefit from.

It’s great that the children have been so involved with the project along the way, and that despite the challenges of COVID, the school community, the council and the project team have been able to work together to complete this work on time.”

Several Headteachers warned me about the stresses and difficulties generally encountered during school building work. I cannot say that our building work hasn’t been stressful or difficult, but I am able to say that it would have been far worse had it not been for the excellent relationship we have enjoyed with the team at Henry Boot. Every situation has been discussed and arranged with the best interests of the school in mind.

Conducting building work throughout the unique challenges of Covid has created stresses, but these have been managed sensitively and safely under the guidance of Matt Hible and Matt Kirby. We are extremely grateful that the work has continued and that we were able to open our lovely new building to all pupils on time, this is nothing short of miraculous.

Louise Booth, Headteacher, St Luke's C of E Primary School