Wellington’s newest primary school won’t be opening its doors until October, with the new intake of pupils having to be taught elsewhere until half-term.

Primary and secondary schools across England will welcome back pupils in September as the Government continues its push towards a return to normality after the Covid-19 lockdown forced classrooms to shut.

It had originally been hoped the new Isambard Kingdom Brunel Primary School, in Thomas Place on the Longforth Farm estate, would have been completed in time for the new academic year.

But delays caused by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic mean its first pupils won’t be physically allowed on-site until early November.

The school is part of the Castle Partnership Trust, which runs Wellesley Park Primary School and two secondary schools – the Castle School in Taunton and Court Fields Community School in Wellington.

The two-storey school will contain 14 classrooms, accommodating up to 420 pupils, as well as a 39-place nursery and sports facilities.

Head teacher Richard Healey said the pandemic had caused delays in the construction of the school but these had not been as severe as anticipated.

He said: “After the setbacks of the Covid-19 pandemic, there have been inevitable delays that have moved the opening of the school back. There were fears of long delays – however the trust, along with building company Portakabin and the Department for Education (DfE), have moved mountains to ensure that the school’s opening will only be delayed until October.

“The likely date for handover will be October 20, enabling a very busy half-term holiday schedule for us to move in, set up and be ready for the children to begin at our rightful setting when they return from the half-term holidays on November 2.”

The Bright Sparks nursery, which was originally set to open at the same time as the school, will begin accepting children for the first time in January 2021.

While the new school is being completed, the first intake of pupils will be taught at Wellington’s other primary school in temporary accommodation.