HRH The Duchess of Cornwall to open new Marlborough school

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall will be paying a special visit to pupils at Marlborough St Mary’s C.E. School this month when she officially opens the school.

HRH will visit the school on Tuesday 30 January and will meet the Headteacher Anne Schwodler and Governors Mark Thomas (Chair) and Amanda Carver before enjoying performances and a tour of the brand new purpose built primary school.

Headteacher Anne Schwodler said: “We are delighted to be able to show HRH The Duchess of Cornwall around our beautiful new building. We are all very proud of our school and this is a wonderful opportunity, and a great honour for the children and staff.”

The visit will begin with a performance from children in the reception class, before a tour of the new facilities. The group will visit a number of the classrooms beginning with the resource room.

The tour will include dropping into a Year 6 literacy class and a visit to the IT room to meet members of the “Radio Club.”

After the tour HRH will be invited to watch pupils perform a special song before she unveils the plaque to commemorate the new building.

The Bishop of Ramsbury the Rt Revd. Dr Edward Condry will also bless the school.

The school currently has 380 pupils, with the capacity for 440. There are two classes for each year group from Reception to Year 6 (age range 4 – 11 years) and a Complex Needs Resource Base for children with a range of special needs.

The school has been built as part of the government’s Priority Schools Building Programme. Wiltshire Council contributed to the build to ensure it could be a single storey school. The former infant building was recently demolished to improve access and parking on the site.

Philip Whalley, Wiltshire Council portfolio holder for education and skills said: “This will be a special day for this school and will live long in the memory of all the pupils. I’m looking forward to seeing the great facilities first hand and hearing how they complement the pupils’ learning.”

The special event will also be attended by HM Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire Mrs Sarah Rose Troughton, The High Sheriff of Wiltshire Lady Marland, Chairman of Wiltshire Council Allison Bucknell, The Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson, Wiltshire Superintendent Chris Chammings representing the Chief Constable of Wiltshire and the Mayor and Mayoress of Marlborough Councillor Mervyn Hall and Cath Hall.