MAKING good progress. That's the report on a new £5.6 million primary school in Christchurch.

Twynham Primary School is to open in September 2018 and will accommodate 150 pupils from reception through to Year Four.

The school is currently using a temporary site at the Twynham site.

The two-form entry primary school will include 14 classrooms, a large hall, studio and administrative areas as well as a learning resource zone.

It will also feature multi-use games area, a sports pitch and a wildlife area.

Work is well underway on the scheme by builders Morgan Sindall and members of the project team were joined by representatives of Dorset County Council and children and staff from the school to celebrate the tightening of the last bolt on the building’s steel frame.

Cllr Margaret Phipps, Dorset County Councillor for Christchurch Commons, said: “It’s great to see the new Twynham Primary School building take shape, thanks to Morgan Sindall’s work alongside our design team.

"The school is needed to meet the rising demand for primary school places in Christchurch and I am sure children and staff will be looking forward to moving from their temporary site to the new building next year.”

Dr Terry Fish, Executive Headteacher at Twynham Learning, said “I'm delighted that the construction of the new primary school is now well underway.

"While we will all be sad to see the young children move from Twynham School it will be wonderful for the children and staff to move into their brand new, purpose built school, for which they have waited so long.”

Jon Daines, Area Director at Morgan Sindall, said: “We’re so pleased to be celebrating this key milestone."