New Hetton Primary is looking good

The school in Moorsley Road is part of the City Council's ongoing programme of investments and improvements for young people and families.

Ground works started in August 2021 and the new school has been built on the same site with its new playing field due for completion in Spring 2023.

The school includes energy saving features as part of the City Council's moves toward helping Sunderland becoming carbon neutral.

There are now 11 class rooms, a multi-use hall, and an open plan library at the heart of the school. It has capacity for 245 pupils of all ages including its nursery provision and can accommodate more in years to come.

Sunderland City Council's Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Skills, Councillor Louise Farthing said: "It's a very exciting time for everyone at the school and it will be serving the needs of the community for generations to come. The new Hetton Primary is providing pupils and staff with modern facilities which not only enhance and improve the learning experience, but also help provide the highest standard of education for the young people who are the future of our city.

"Hetton is very much another milestone in this council's commitment to ensuring the very best for everyone and every community."

Among the new features are nursery and reception classrooms all having their own external play areas directly linked to the individual teaching spaces for safe indoor and outdoor play.

Headteacher Nicola Hill said: "We have an amazing and much improved learning environment which will allow all of our pupils to be the best that they can be, as we prepare them for the next steps in their school journey.

"With all of our new facilities and additional, purpose-built space, we are very much at the heart of the community. The children, families and staff of Hetton Primary School truly deserve this building and we look forward to what the future holds for everyone."

A new car park and drop-off plaza has been created to the front of the school to create a safe area for parents, visitors and staff to visit the school.

Simon Marshall, Sunderland's Director of Education, said: "New buildings mark a new chapter in the history of the school and bring tangible and big improvements to daily life, not just for pupils and staff but also for families and the wider community. I'd like to thank everyone for their efforts in delivering this new build and look forward to seeing the impact these changes make.

A new £13.3m Sunningdale School at Clinton Place, Doxford, has also been completed this year and further school improvements works designed by the council's Capital Project Team are continuing.

The main contractor at Hetton was Robertson Construction North East and its Regional Managing Director Garry Hope said: "Hetton Primary School is an excellent addition to Sunderland's education portfolio and we are continuing our strong working relationship with the City Council.

"The investment by the council into schools like Hetton, are shown to improve attainment and attendance and we have been proud to be part of the creation of this new learning environment. As part of our legacy at the school we have donated a selection of books to the school library which we hope will be enjoyed by many pupils for years to come."