Manor Court Community Primary School in Chard is set to welcome pupils this September with a fresh new look, featuring a newly constructed playground and sports area completed over the summer break.
Located on Duck Lane (B3162), near the town’s Sainsbury’s supermarket, Manor Court serves as the main primary school for children residing on the southern side of Chard. Until recently, an early years centre was situated at the rear of the main school building. Following the relocation of this provision to the school’s front, the old facility was demolished.
The cleared area at the rear has been transformed into hardstanding open space designed for physical education (PE) lessons and after-school clubs. The project was undertaken by A. A. Pike Construction, a company based in nearby Forton. An update on the school’s official Facebook page on 13 August celebrated the completion of the tarmac and announced that line markings for sports courts would soon be added.
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The school described the new outdoor space as “fantastic” and “secure,” emphasising its role in providing additional capacity for PE and numerous enrichment clubs throughout the academic year. Manor Court expressed gratitude to A. A. Pike Construction for their work in bringing this vision to life and enhancing the school’s facilities.
Earlier statements from the school highlighted that the former early years centre building was “well past its sell-by date” and no longer needed following the successful relocation. The creation of this all-weather, secure area is regarded as the final element of headteacher Luke Talmage’s ambitions to develop Manor Court’s site and offer the best possible facilities for its pupils.
Mr Talmage announced in May that he would be departing at the end of the current academic year to become chief executive officer of a multi-academy trust managing over 1,300 pupils across five schools in the South West. Reflecting on his departure, he expressed both excitement for his new role and sadness at leaving a school that has been deeply meaningful to him.
The school’s enhancements come amid news from Somerset Council that plans to establish a new primary school on the grounds of Holyrood Academy in Chard have been postponed until at least 2030. This delay is attributed to rising costs, decreasing birth rates, and slower-than-expected housing development in the area.