The Waterbeach team are celebrating a significant milestone with proposals for its first primary school being announced by Cambridgeshire County Council. The new school will be called Deneia Primary Academy, to reflect the history of the area, and will be run by Anglian Learning Trust.
The new 630 place, 3-form entry academy has been designed into an incredible setting, with its own grounds nestling into the woodlands around it, all with public realm, play areas and walk and cycle routes connecting in to the wider development. The school will be built as a highly sustainable, nearly net zero energy standard, minimising whole life carbon emissions, and ensuring a building and grounds that are resilient in the face of climate change.
The grounds, which include a mature woodland, pond and wildlife area, will provide a Forest School with the opportunity for outdoor learning, whilst the orchard, with heritage fruit trees, will provide pupils with the experience of growing their own food and will be incorporated in lessons on cookery and nutrition.
The school has also been carefully designed into the wider development to ensure a car free zone around the school, and draws on best practice from around the World to design out parking drop-off challenges and establish a culture of safe walking, cycling and scooting to school from day one. It will also have a shared public square in front of the school for parents to meet and the community to come together.
I am thrilled to be leading the establishment of this new school for Anglian Learning. The eco-credentials of the school build with sustainable and reusable materials, will significantly influence our curriculum. For example, the extensive grounds, including mature woodland, pond and wildlife area will provide the opportunity for outdoor learning through our Forest School whilst the orchard, with heritage fruit trees, will provide pupils with the experience of growing their own food and will be incorporated in lessons on cookery and nutrition."
Rachael Johnston
Executive Headteacher for the Primary Academy