‘ECO CLASSROOM’ THE FIRST IN YORKSHIRE

A Sheffield school has built a state of the art eco-classroom, thought to be one of the first in Yorkshire, made to be fully sustainable and located on the edge of the school immersed in nature.

With a stunning modern design, the £50,000 classroom is made exclusively of wood and uses aluminium for the windows, ensuring it regulates temperature well, requiring very little need for electricity.

Four years in the making, parents helped Bradfield Dungworth Primary School in securing the funds to go ahead as they attempted to turn the school’s footprint green.

Currently purposed for a quiet space for students of key workers who are in school, and a place for teachers who need to complete virtual learning, the classroom couldn’t have come at a better time.

Bradfield Dungworth Primary School forms part of Peak Edge Trust a multi-academy trust established in 2019 located in north west Sheffield.

The Trust works alongside MAC Construction Consultants, which was appointed on the four-week project to provide specialist Cost Management, Quantity Survey and Safety, Health and Environmental services.

Paul Booth, Building Surveyor at MAC Construction Consultants said: “We’re delighted to have been involved in this project that will deliver much needed resources and facilities for the pupils in the local area, and help to ensure the long term sustainability of the school building.

Headteacher Helen Adams said: “We’re a small rural school on the outskirts of Sheffield, lucky enough to be surrounded by beautiful views.

“When we started this project, we had only about 100 pupils, now we have 122.”

“The community is like a family.

“We were told that our mobile classroom was no longer fit for purpose – with another winter, the roof would have caved in.

“It wasn’t intended to be there long term, but to obtain enough funds is a difficult challenge.

“Where we are, we see so much nature and the need to protect the environment, so parents and the school decided it was what we needed.

“The fundraising couldn’t have been done without the hard work of the parents and all those who helped with fundraising.

“But it has all been so worth it – our children had a competition to name it, with nature being the entire theme.

“We named it the Burrow, and seeing our children already to enjoy it and be able to connect with nature is brilliant.

“With it being Children’s Mental Health awareness week, these spaces for children are more important that ever.

“The quiet, the connection to nature – it’s really good for the children who might be stressed by the pandemic.”

Source: YorkshireLive