Top marks as school gets summer makeover from Highways England workers

All labour and materials were donated for the DIY SOS-style project which included a renovated seating area and shelter, a new footpath, redecorating and repairs.

Delighted pupils at English Martyrs Catholic Voluntary Academy Trust in Oakham were over the moon on the first day of term when they arrived to see the work that had been done.

While the children were enjoying their summer break, work was being carried out by a group of volunteers from the East Midlands Asset Delivery (EMAD) team – made up of Highways England and 22 partners including NMCN, Kier, Tarmac and Hanson.

Over three days the team laid a new footpath to the sports area, repaired the Early Years playground fence, refurbished a shelter, renovated flooring and classroom carpet tiles and painted the toilet blocks.

Alison Chambers, head teacher at English Martyrs Catholic Voluntary Academy, said:

The children and staff were delighted to discover when they returned after the summer holidays that there was a new path, painted fences, line markings, painted toilets, a painted hall and new floorings in adult and pupil toilets.

We would like to say a big thank you to all involved, school budgets are tight and this has helped enormously with providing a real lift to our external and internal premises. We are hoping to invite some of the contractors back into school for our Aspirations Week later on in the school year.

The school won the makeover thanks to the artistic talents of 10-year-old pupils Lilly Gerstner and Sophia Rice after a team of road experts from EMAD visited local primary schools. They helped pupils between the ages of eight and 11 to plan, design and build their own road bridges.

The children were challenged to design a poster reflecting the work of Highways England which plans, designs, builds, operates and maintains 4,300 miles of motorways and major A-roads across England.

The best posters were displayed in the Highways England marquee at the Rutland Show in June where the winners were announced.

Highways England assistant collaboration manager for the region, Nicola Tomlinson, said:

Working with our supply chain partners on this great initiative we exceeded all expectations on the improvements we were able to carry out at the school which will benefit both staff and children.

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