New primary school opens after 30 years of planning

The Bishop of Tonbridge has heralded the opening of a new village school as an opportunity for the community to rebuild after the pandemic.

The Rt Revd Simon Burton-Jones and local MP Tom Tugendhat were both at the official opening of the new Platt Church of England Primary School.

It's taken almost three decades for the project, in Saint Mary's Platt, to get off the drawing board. 

• Watch: Rt Rev Simon Burton-Jones, Bishop of Tonbridge:

The modern facilities include a cookery room and sports hall. They replaced classrooms that were more than a century old. 

The school’s chair of governors, Paul Vallance, headteacher, Jenna Crittenden, and head boy and head girl also spoke at the opening event on Thursday, 23 September.

• Watch: Tom Tugendhat MP, Con, Tonbridge and Malling:

Tom Tugendhat MP said: "This is a joyful landmark for staff and pupils at the school, and the whole community around Platt. After so many years of work, I am delighted to see this project take shape to improve our children's education for many years to come."

It is the third time the village’s primary school has been rebuilt, with the previous facilities dating from the 1910s. The school currently has around 160 pupils.

• Watch: Annalise Eckersley, head girl, and James Benedikz, head boy: