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Silver Birch Primary School takes root

From left, Together for Children's Director of Education Kimberley Richardson with Headteacher Catherine Jones and Thorney Close pupils who move to the new-build Silver Birch next year and Matt Kemp of Brims Construction.

A £13m new primary school is being built in Sunderland.

The new school, which will be called Silver Birch Primary, replaces the outdated facilities at nearby Thorney Close Primary.

Alongside being able to enrol 315 pupils, the school in Shaftoe Road will have a nursery and a unit for children with hearing impairments.

It is within 250 metres (820ft) of the current Thorney Close school and being built on the site of the former Sunningdale school for children with severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties. Sunningdale moved to a complete new build at Clinton Place, Doxford, in 2021.

Silver Birch Primary is part of Together for Children and the City Council's ongoing investment programme that is seeing more than £32m invested in school buildings and facilities.

From left, Together for Children's Director of Education Kimberley Richardson, Matt Kemp from Brims Construciton, Headteacher Catherine Jones and Thorney Close pupils who move to the new-build Silver Birch next year.
Together for Children's Director of Education, Kimberley Richardson said

This new school - Silver Birch Primary - is another example of our commitment to seeing that every community has the very best facilities. It's about providing pupils and staff with the most modern facilities that improve and strengthen the learning experience and go towards ensuring that our young have the highest standard of education.

"Our young people are the future of the city and our schools are at the heart of our communities."

The school is on a six-and-a-half acre site, due to open for the 2026 academic year in just under a year's time, and includes a new playing field which is in line with the latest Sport England standards.

Silver Birch school
Catherine Jones, headteacher for Thorney Close Primary School and future head of Silver Birch, has toured the site and said:

I'd like to thank everyone who has worked on the design and planning of the new school and now, with the groundworks and construction underway, it's a big thanks to the contractors as we're all looking to seeing the changes as the building goes up and moving in for the next school year.

The school was designed by the City Council's in-house capital projects team and is now being delivered by regional company Brims Construction, who were awarded contract earlier this year.

 

Silver Birch governors, children, teachers, and professionals from TfC and Brims
Matt Kemp, Project Manager at Brims Construction said: 

Starting with the establishment of offices and welfare facilities to support our team throughout the duration of the project. Our first task was to clear several years' worth of plant and vegetation overgrowth, making the area safe and ready for construction.

"We are now progressing with the installation of drainage systems and foundations for the new school building, which will be followed by the erection of the steel frame. In parallel, work has also commenced on the development of the new sports pitch."

Sunderland City Council granted planning permission for Silver Birch Primary in June 2024 and alongside four charging bays for electric vehicles (EVs), the school will have 80 bike racks for pupils, staff and visitors.

 

 

 

 

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