OLYMPIC athlete Craig Figes will be helping Christchurch First School open its new classrooms and additional facilities next week. 
With £1million capital investment from Somerset County Council, the school has four brand new classrooms, which will allow the school to offer an additional 60 places to help cater for growing pupil numbers in the town.
In addition, the school has built new toilet facilties, a new entrance and office, new staff room, and a new library. The funding has also allowed the school to remodel its internal spaces and construct a new outdoor area, which will be used for the first time during the opening ceremony.
Headteacher Sarah Bullmore said, “We’ve had four brand new classrooms built, two to replace temporary ones, and two because there’s the need for additional places in the town. These are purpose-built and link back to the main building.
“The children are very proud of the new environment, they call it the new school, and see that we’re refurbishing the rest of the school as money allows.
“We are a school on the edge of the town, with the most amazing grounds and views. We really pride ourselves on the community feel and it’s like a village school on the edge of the town.”
‘Be the best you can be’
Craig Figes, TeamGB’s men’s water polo captain at the London 2012 Olympics, will be the second Olympian to visit the school in this academic year. In September, Olympic hurdler Tasha Danvers visited the school to kick-start the ‘be the best you can be’ programme, designed to help young people recognise and fulfil their potential in the wake of the London 2012 games. Since then, children in each class have created and worked on their own aims and aspirations and will be awarded with a medal from Craig Figes during the opening ceremony.
