St. Matthew’s Primary School opened in September 2006, following the amalgamation of the former St. Matthew’s Infant School and St. Matthew’s Junior School. From that time, until September 2007, major building work took place across the school site, in order to improve the quality of the school buildings and to join the former infant and junior buildings into one complete primary school site for Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.
On Tuesday 13 November 2007, an official opening ceremony took place. Visitors included former staff of both schools, members of the present governing body, as well as representatives from the architects and building company who carried out the excellent building work.
The official opening of the school was performed by Northamptonshire and England cricketer, Monty Panesar, a former pupil of St. Matthew’s Infant and Junior Schools. At a special assembly, he unveiled a commemorative plaque and answered questions from some current pupils. All of our visitors then toured the school, and for a few lucky pupils in Year 6, the event ended with the chance to play some indoor cricket, with Monty practising his world-famous spin bowling, albeit with a tennis ball!
In 2009, the local authority, following consultation with the school’s Governors, staff and parents, decided that St Matthew’s should be enlarged in order to provide more school places in the town for the growing number of primary-aged children. Foundation Stage and Years 1, 2 and 3 currently have capacity for 120 children organised into to four classes. Years 4, 5 and 6 have capacity three classes of 30 children. By the year 2015 all year groups from Year R to Year 6 will have four classes of 30 children each, bringing the total school intake to a maximum of 840.
Work commenced at the beginning of 2011 to build new classrooms, new offices, meeting rooms, a redesigned and refurbished Foundation Stage base, an improved Family Centre, and a striking main entrance to the school. Work continued through the summer of 2011 and the first phase was handed over by the builders in September 2011. The new classroom block was completed towards the end of 2011 and Year 3 classes moved into their new classrooms early in 2012. During the October 2011 half term break, eight KS2 classrooms were all fitted with new double-glazed windows and external doors.
Work has continued throughout 2012 with all the Key Stage 1 classrooms being gutted and refurbished with new cupboards, sink areas, carpets and cloakrooms. During the summer holiday of 2012, the Year 4, 5 and 6 classrooms were also cleared and re-carpeted and redecorated, as was the main KS2 corridor. At the same time, the Key Stage 1 hall was refurbished with newly painted walls, new wooden panels around the edge of the hall and a brand new wooden floor.
The school also has its own purpose-built sports hall which forms part of the High Town Community Sports and Arts Centre in Concorde a street, less than five minutes’ walk from the main school site.
Since opening as a Primary School, we have achieved the following awards and accreditations:
St. Matthew’s Primary School
Wenlock Street
Luton
LU2 0NJ
Tel: 01582 723970
Fax: 01582 451961
E-mail: st.matthews.primary.admin@luton.gov.uk
Headteacher: Ms J. Thomas
Deputy Headteacher: Mrs J. Parker
Deputy Headteacher: Mrs V. Rayner
Assistant Headteacher: Mrs G. Somes
Assistant Headteacher (Acting): Mrs N. Crawford
Chair of Governors: Mrs J. Malcolm
