Leader of Medway Council, Cllr Vince Maple, visited St John’s CE Infant School to officially reopen the school following its major £100,000 refurbishment.

The visit marked an exciting moment for the whole school community, celebrating the transformation of the building and the significant investment made to create a brighter, safer and more welcoming environment for children, families and staff.

Over the summer, a wide programme of improvement works was completed across the school. These included the creation of a new entrance and relocated school office, extensive redecoration and new flooring, improvements to the Year 2 learning environment, refurbishment of the school hall and new fencing around the site.

The project has helped to give St John’s a fresh new feel while also improving how the building works day to day. The redesigned entrance now provides a much warmer welcome for families and visitors, while the changes across classrooms and communal areas have created more attractive and practical spaces for learning.

During his visit, Cllr Maple had the opportunity to see the improvements first-hand, meet staff and pupils and hear more about the school’s plans for the future.

Headteacher Beki Edwards said: “We were delighted to welcome Cllr Maple to St John’s and to have the opportunity to celebrate such an important moment for our school.

“The refurbishment has made a huge difference to the environment and has given us a fantastic start to the new academic year. Our children deserve spaces that are welcoming, purposeful and inspiring, and we are incredibly proud of what has been achieved.”

The reopening also reflects the wider ambition for St John’s as the school continues to strengthen its provision and serve families in the local community.

The investment forms part of Medway Anglican Schools Trust’s commitment to ensuring that every child is able to belong, be safe and flourish.

The school would like to thank everyone who helped make the refurbishment possible and Cllr Maple for taking the time to join pupils, staff and families in celebrating the beginning of this exciting new chapter for St John’s.