WORK has started on a new £7 million primary school in York.

The main contractor Shepherd Construction joined with dignitaries and staff at a turf-cutting ceremony to mark the start of a project that will provide new education and sports facilities for Clifton with Rawcliffe Schools, on the site at Eastholme Drive.

The project will bring together the two schools under one roof and provide state-of-the-art education and sports buildings. New car parking, play areas, a multi-use games areas and a pedestrian entrance will be developed.

Work begins in earnest later this month, with the first pupils due to move into the school in September 2011. The work is scheduled to be fully completed in November 2011, and will accommodate 630 pupils and the equivalent of 39 full-time foundation-stage students.

Environmental features will include a biomass boiler and rainwater harvesting.

Allan McDougall, Shepherd Construction’s chief executive, said: “This latest project goes further to underline Shepherd’s role in the city’s modernisation of its educational facilities, having recently completed construction of Goodricke College and our current refurbishment work on the J B Morrell library at the University of York.”

Maggie Tansley, head of planning and resources at City of York Council, said: “The new school will be one of two new primary school buildings in York funded by the Primary Capital Programme and City of York Council.

“It provides a fantastic opportunity for the two federated schools to come together on one site, with the design of the school focusing on delivering education in the 21st century.”

Chris Wigley, head teacher at Clifton with Rawcliffe School, said: “Understandably the new school is the cause of great excitement for all concerned. The demands on the Primary education system will undoubtedly change radically during this century: this building has been designed to accommodate such change and will continue to provide the children in the Clifton and Rawcliffe wards with a wonderful learning environment for generations to come.”