On Wednesday 9th September Bearsted Primary Academy, the latest addition to the highly successful Leigh Academies Trust (LAT), opened its doors officially for the very first time, welcoming in 37 eager and excited Reception pupils and their families.
Due to COVID-19 impacting the build at the start of lockdown, resulting in site closure and delays with building suppliers, families had been notified in April of the possibility of being on a temporary site up until Christmas. However, due to the tireless efforts of B&K, who lead the building project, working 7 days a week whilst following all Covid guidance, the academy was able to welcome their children into their brand new building located near to the Kims Medical Campus.
The moment it was safe to do so, the Bearsted Primary Academy team lead by Miss Barnden (Principal), came onto site to ensure classrooms and learning environments were ready, safe and prepared for opening. Pupils and their families were then able to safely visit the site on Monday for an allocated time slot, allowing for cleaning and sanitization in between, to see where they would be starting school. Families were thrilled to see everything ready and prepared and pupils thoroughly enjoyed themselves, settling in quickly and with beaming smiles, and with some not wanting to leave.
For their first official day at school, on entering the school grounds, the children walked underneath a rainbow of balloons which led them towards their classes on their new adventure. Families followed the one way system, keeping a metre apart, which was in place to ensure social distancing and on being warmly welcomed into their classrooms children carefully washed their hands before settling down for their first day. It is safe to say each and every one of the new pupils attending Bearsted Primary Academy had a fantastic first day and are looking forward to what the rest of the term brings.
