A NEW £ 10 million school and nursery in Basildon, as part of a major controversial new housing development, has opened its doors and welcomed its first students. 

Chapel Hill Primary School and Nursery, in George Street in Basildon officially opened its doors on Monday, September 2 with Sue Jackson as executive head teacher. Initially, it has a two form of entry, with the capacity to grow and leaders say it will "stand strong alongside its sister as another hugely successful 'Outstanding' Primary School within the Lee Chapel Trust."

The two-storey school, which is set to accommodate 476 pupils, will feature state-of-the-art classrooms, a library, main hall, a special educational needs therapy room and nursery, as well as designated science and design technology rooms and a full production kitchen.

Mrs Jackson, who's also headteacher at Lee Chapel Primary School in the town which is also under the trust, said: "As a Basildon girl myself It has been an honour and privilege to have led Lee Chapel Primary School for the past twenty-five years supported by my fabulous team of staff, many of whom have been with me for decades.

"Opening Chapel Hill Primary School and Nursery, the sister to Lee Chapel, is an opportunity to give even more children access to an outstanding primary education and the Lee Chapel brand 'magic'! 

"Chapel Hill, our new state-of-the-art school, was built as the 'sister school' to Lee Chapel, where demand significantly exceeds the number of places. Chapel Hill will, like its larger sister, quickly become a centre of educational excellence that is the jewel in Basildon's crown. Chapel Hill's pupils are already proving to be outstanding ambassadors for their new school and community."

The school and integrated nursery– anticipated to be ready from September 2024 – is part of a planning deal associated with the controversial 725 new homes being developed at the site.

Outline permission was granted in June 2013 by Basildon Council, for the major development despite 838 objection letters and a 5,000-signature petition and then in October 2014 the Green Action Group took its case to the High Court in a bid to halt the development, but a judge threw out their request after the campaigners raised more than £20,000 to fight their cause.

Last May, plans for the school were agreed but Essex County Council's planning committee heard a lack of allocated parking for parents was not something the council could insist on because it was "not policy compliant". Instead, a school travel plan will encourage most parents to walk.