School opens long-awaited new classroom

A SCHOOL has finally got a new classroom – more than two years after the project had looked set to collapse.

Staff and students at Ponsbourne St Mary’s Primary School in Newgate Street were joined by the Bishop of Hertford, the Rt Rev Christopher Foster, for the opening of the long-awaited and much-needed facility.

The celebrations were in stark contrast to two-and-a-half years ago, when pupils, staff and parents descended on County Hall in Hertford to protest to Hertfordshire County Council after it pulled a �250,000 grant to build the classroom at the last minute.

The council said at the time the cash had been withdrawn because it had not received a large enough increase in funding from the Government. But after years of pressure, the council finally stumped up the money needed to build the classroom, to the delight of campaigners.

Ponsbourne St Mary’s head Tracy Gaiteri said: “We’ve needed a new classroom for eight years.

“It’s been a long journey, but a very worthwhile one.

“This will make a huge difference to our school. Every class now has a classroom. Before, we had to teach a class of children in a conservatory which was supposed to be for a small group of children with special needs.”

She added: “We’ve had a really good year as a school.

“We’ve had an excellent Ofsted report this year, and now this. We’re all really, really happy.”