Earl Spencer opens £1million extension at Priors Marston

The 9th Earl Spencer, who resides at Althorp House, officially opened the extension of The Priors School on Friday.

It was his great great grandfather, the fourth Earl Spencer, who entrusted the school to the villagers of Priors Marston and Priors Hardwick 165 years ago.

Among the improvements to the free school is a new classroom, library and a brand new hall with gym facilities and a new kitchen. A corridor linking the new building with the original Victorian school dating from 1847, has also been built.

The school is delighted with the enhanced and bigger capacity. Headteacher Gary Murrell said: “This is a much more comfortable environment for all of our pupils.

“There are also many improved facilities for them and these will benefit the education of the children enormously. The nice thing is that we will be able to attract extra children into the nursery for which there are still spaces available.”