• Pictured above are, from left, Richard Ludlow, chief executive of Ebor Academy Trust; Suzanne Firth, from North Yorkshire County Council's children and young people’s service; Chris McMackin, council lead for admissions and transport; Gail Brown, headteacher; and Andrew Dixon, council strategic planning officer.

BUILDERS have moved out and Selby's brand new primary school is ready for its first pupils.

Construction has finished at Staynor Hall Community Primary Academy, and although classes will not start until September pupils and their families can visit the school and meet their new teachers in the coming months.

The school buildings have already been handed over to York-based Ebor Academy Trust, who will run the school, and drop-in sessions are planned for the summer.

Headteacher Mrs Brown said: "We’re very excited. The school is looking fantastic and right now we’re starting to liaise with other schools to work out when is best for children who are coming to the new school to come along and see what’s in store.

"In July, there will be evening and daytime drop-in sessions too, and we’ll be putting the dates on our website, www.staynorhall.ebor.academy, once they’re confirmed. A welcome pack, with details of such things as uniforms, will be sent out soon."

The £4.6million new school will help fill the growing need for primary school places in Selby, including for children living in the new Staynor Hall housing development.

Its construction was funded by North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) with a contribution from Staynor Hall housebuilder Persimmon. The county councill will not invest another £245,000 for furniture, IT equipment and educational resources, so the schools is ready to open in September.

NYCC's Cllr Arthur Barker said: "This has been a ground-breaking project for us because it is the first of a number of new primary schools we will need to build to deliver places to meet the growth in the number of primary school pupils. It is the first we have built and handed over to a sponsor.

"This school represents the biggest single investment in local educational facilities for Selby for many years and we have worked closely with our partners, the Ebor Academy Trust, to create a school that will give our children the very best in teaching and learning and high-quality facilities."

Staynor Hall will provide 210 new school places and like other schools in the area its admissions will be co-ordinated through NYCC's admissions team based in Harrogate.