Martlesham Primary Academy, near Ipswich, works with Seamans Building to achieve new, standalone classroom

Children at a Suffolk primary school donned hard hats and hi-vis jackets as they got a guided tour of their new Year 6 classroom.

The standalone classroom at Martlesham Primary Academy, near Ipswich, has been constructed to give older children a separate space to learn, preparing them to step into secondary school.

The high-tech, modern building has been constructed by Seamans Building, based in Thurston, near Bury St Edmunds, and is the firm’s first project since rejoining the Suffolk County Council Construction Framework.

Excited Year 6 pupils were given a tour of the new building last month.

Headteacher Emma Churchman said: “Here at Martlesham Primary we pride ourselves on being a small school with a big heart.

“We encourage and enable our children to be successful learners, ensuring that our school community is a positive place to be, and that is what the team from Seamans have bought in to from day one.

“Working with Seamans to deliver a new classroom and improve facilities around the school has been inspirational and a real positive experience for the staff.

“Learning environments are important to enable children to develop and grow.

“Both Martlesham and REAch2 Academy Trust are grateful to Seamans for their care and attention to detail.”

To give something back to the community, Seamans has donated and installed a large wooden shed next to the new classroom which, after pupils decorate it, will become the school’s new Reading Café.

They also held a careers day event earlier this term, giving the children a glimpse of what it is like working in the industry.

Site manager Adam Gillibrand said: “This project has been a real pleasure to work on – the staff and pupils have been really engaged in the project and made us feel part of the school community”