Work begins on £5m Dales school

Pupils, parents, governors, North Yorkshire county councillors and staff gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony for the new school at Bentham, in Craven, this week. It will bring together the communities of Low and High Bentham under one roof.

Building work will start next week on the Low Bentham Road site. The new school, which will provide places for 150 children plus a nursery, is due to open in January 2015 and follows the closure of Low Bentham Primary School in 2008.

County Councillor Arthur Barker, North Yorkshire’s executive member for schools, said: “The new school will be a great asset to the communities of High and Low Bentham, providing 21st century facilities for children, families, and the community.

“It has taken many years of planning, design and negotiations to reach this point. Despite recent reductions in funding available, the county council has continued to prioritise the new school and I am delighted that work is now starting on site.”

Catherine Boocock, headteacher, said: “We are all delighted that at last we are getting a new school building for the present and future children of Bentham.”