Ashwicken youngsters become bricklayers, as part of their new £2.5m school building project

Pupils at Ashwicken Primary School got the chance to try their hand at brick laying, as part of the on going building of the new school. Picture: Matthew Usher. (Image: Archant Norfolk 2015)

Ashwicken Primary School, near King's Lynn, is getting a new school building to replace the former premises that dated back to 1911 and were demolished last August.

Work is under way and the children at the school in East Winch Road have been helping out workers from Gill Building, from Norwich. The builders have also taken assembly at the school to talk to the children about health and safety on site.

Sue Collison, headteacher at the school for 13 years, said: 'We have been in temporary accommodation since September. The previous school was old, the classrooms were small, and it was not fit for purpose. The new school will have four classrooms, a big hall, underfloor heating, solar panels, a stage, modern equipment and a library for the first time.'

The school has 123 pupils, aged from four to 11, and Mrs Collison added: 'This is a thriving school, and we get children from as far away as King's Lynn. The new school is going to be fantastic. The whole site will be landscaped but we will keep our chickens.'

Nick Gale, from Gill Building, said: 'We have been showing them brickwork and the girls are better than the boys. The youngsters have taken to it like ducks to water.'

Pupil Elianna Dockerty, from Ashwicken, 11, said: 'I'm enjoying it but I don't know if I want to be a bricklayer. My favourite subjects at school are art and literacy.'

The school, in conjunction with the builders, also ran a poster competition, based on safety, and the three best designs will be put up on fences around the site.

Tell us what your school in west Norfolk is up to? Email david.bale2@archant.co.uk