Top marks for Longton Lane Community Primary School after £4.8m development
Senior St Helens Borough councillors visited Longton Lane Community Primary School this week to see how pupils and staff are settling into their new surroundings following the Rainhill school's £4.8m transformation.
Article date: 15 January 2026
The project, funded by the Department for Education (DfE), began in January 2024 and has delivered a modern, two-storey building designed to meet the needs of a growing school community, with St Helens Borough Council also contributing £198,000 to create an additional classroom.
The new facility boasts 13 classrooms, taking current capacity to 284 pupils - from reception to Year 6. It also features a spacious main hall, kitchen, enhanced play areas and extensive landscaping.
While green initiatives such as solar roof panels, extra car and cycle parking and electric vehicle charging points support the council's zero-carbon ambitions.
"We've been in for the past 12-months now but it's actually like we've never been anywhere else," said headteacher, Linda Speed.
"It's very different to what we had previously as we had two buildings for infants and juniors - whereas now it's lovely because we're all together as one big school.
"As far as the new building goes, it's amazing. It's light, bright and we've got so many more rooms that we didn't have before, like a wellbeing room and specialist classroom.
"The school's ethos is built around 'believe and achieve' and the new building definitely supports that."
Councillor Nova Charlton, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, who visited Longton Lane Community Primary School alongside Council Leader, Anthony Burns, and Director of Children and Young People, Paula Swindlehurst, said:
"Children spend a significant part of early lives in school, so it's vital that the environment supports them to thrive and enjoy their learning.
"We're delighted to have this new, state-of-the-art school in the borough, which is a fantastic example of how we're investing in our schools as part of our number one priority as a council of ensuring all children and young people have a positive start in life."