Virtual Tour

Our school opened on its present site in September 2006. It is a modern design and has won two architectural awards. The first commendation, the prestigious Spirit of Ingenuity Community Architectural Award 2008 by the Royal Institute of British Architects (East). The second, awarded by Rochford District Council was First in Category - Non Residential schemes in their Design, Heritage and Conservation Awards 2008.

We are very proud of our lovely building and consider it combines the best that a modern building can offer with a warm and cosy feel.

The main entrance, which is set well back from the road, is on Priory Chase. The front door opens onto a lobby area, from where, in the interests of security, there is secure access to the building.

Pride of place in the entrance lobby is given to the original school bell which dates back to 1873 when the school was founded. In those days it was on the roof. Also in the lobby visitors will see photos of our old school building in Church Road, Rawreth.

A key feature in the reception area is a glass screen made by Catrin Jones, glass artist, from clay tiles designed by all the children attending St Nicholas Primary School in September 2005.

Catrin also worked with children in Years 5 and 6 on collages inspired by St Nicholas Church and churchyard. The tissue and crepe paper collages were turned into stained glass panels which are set in the wall of the corridor and lit fibre optically.

The corridor has an interesting curve to it which we believe adds the good feel of the building.

The school has a large hall which is used for assembly, school dinners and P.E.

In September 2008 we were able to convert our Servery into a working Kitchen and since January 2009 our hot dinners have been cooked on the premises.

This photograph shows the reception classroom. All classrooms have their own toilets and are equipped with Interactive White boards.

The library is next door to the Multimedia Suite and opens out of the corridor. It is well resourced with fiction, non-fiction and reading scheme books to which the children have ready access.

The Multimedia Suite is equipped with 12 desk top computers and an Interactive Whiteboard. It has been designed so that the central space can be used flexibly with groups working at the tables, or the tables can be packed away to enable, music, dance and drama activities to take place.

We also have a bank of 14 laptops that can either be used in the Multimedia Suite or taken to the classrooms to be used as part of their curriculum work.

The school is fortunate to have generous outside space which includes, not only the playground, but a football field, other grass areas, a tyre park agility track, an early years garden and a developing wild life area.