The new site opened on Tuesday 10 June and has 14 classrooms, a nursery, a purpose-built food-tech facility and room which is planned to be developed a sensory space.
The move was made possible thanks to a collaboration between the school, Kent County Council (KCC), The Diocese of Canterbury and construction firm WW Martin.
After looking at ways to meet the growing demand for pupil places in the area, officers at KCC initially looked into expanding the former main school building which was built in 1974. However, feasibility checks found it was at the end of its life and a new building would be needed.
Design and planning first started 2023 and construction began in Spring 2024.
Staff have been celebrating the opening of the new school
School Head Teacher Liz Pearson said: “It has been amazing so far. We have 205 pupils and they have settled in so well.
“It has been incredible watching the children’s reaction to the building. I’ve had pupils coming up to me all week telling me how much they love their new classrooms. It feels like we have been here a long time already, it is better than I could have expected.
“The support we have had from the parents and local community has been overwhelming.”
The project cost £11 million which came from KCC’s Basic Needs funding.
The expansion means from September 2026, the school will increase from a 1FE, to a 2FE, primary school with the Reception class intake increasing from 30 to 60 children. This will then work its way through the school each year until the school eventually has 420 pupils.
The new school also features 256 solar panels on the roof, a practical skills classroom, a learning resource library space, a breakfast/after-school club area and intervention spaces to further develop learning opportunities for all pupils.
The next phase of works which involves demolishing the former school building will start this summer. It will be followed by soft landscaping, a new car park complete with EV charge points and cycle shelters, and a brand new fenced Multi-Use Games Area. This is on track to be completed in December.
There are 14 new classrooms at Teynham Parochial Church of England Primary School. Credit: WW Martin
Beverley Fordham, KCC Cabinet Member for Education and Skills said: “It is brilliant to see staff and pupils now enjoying the fantastic new facilities available at Teynham Parochial Church of England Primary School.
“It is brilliant to see staff and pupils now enjoying the fantastic new facilities available at Teynham Parochial Church of England Primary School.
“The contractors WW Martin have worked extremely well with both the school, KCC and the Diocese of Canterbury, to deliver such an excellent new school building that meets the needs of all children.
"The fact young people were able to access practical training opportunities and work experience through the project is a great example of how the right collaborative approach can open up opportunities."
“It is brilliant to see staff and pupils now enjoying the fantastic new facilities available at Teynham Parochial Church of England Primary School.”
Darren Offen, Senior Site Manager for WW Martin, said: "We are proud to be working as a trusted construction partner to Kent County Council and Teynham Parochial Church of England Primary School on this important project.
“It has been a real pleasure to collaborate closely with them throughout the process to help realise their vision for the new school.
“With the main building now successfully completed, we look forward to continuing this strong partnership as we move into the next phase of works, including the safe demolition of the existing school and the delivery of new high-quality external spaces, such as the new car park and Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA)."
Pupils visited the school during the construction phase. Picture: WW Martin
Learning opportunities
KCC has been working in partnership with WW Martin on delivering learning opportunities throughout the build.
As part of the school’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) Week, the construction firm delivered tailored teaching sessions for each year group, covering key aspects of construction.
Pupils were taken on a supervised tour of the construction site wearing hi-vis vests and hard hats so they could see their new classrooms taking shape. They learned about site safety, the progress of their school, and had an introduction to the wide range of careers available in the industry.
A full-time project generated apprenticeship was also created for a former Westlands School pupil and several local students have completed work experience placements on site.
Bricklaying students from MidKent College also spent time on site with the team to develop their knowledge and skills and birdboxes made by their carpentry students will also be put in place in the coming weeks.
