Rishi took part in a special ground-breaking ceremony at the site of a new multi-million pound primary school in Northallerton.
He attended the milestone occasion which signalled the start of construction at the Alvertune Road site.
The school, which education leaders have promised will be a “flagship of excellence”, will be run by the Dales Academies Trust and will be based in the northern part of Northallerton, where a major new housing development is being built.
The Dales Academies Trust was selected as the sponsor for the school following a competitive process, which attracted interest from several trusts.
The trust has announced the new educational establishment will be called Oakbridge Church of England Primary School and will begin welcoming its first pupils in September next year.
The 2024 opening date gives certainty to the availability of school places in a part of North Yorkshire where housing growth is increasing the population. A phased opening will start with reception children in 2024, expanding to the full cohort over seven years.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for education, learning and skills, Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, said: “We were delighted to welcome Rishi Sunak and are so pleased that work has begun at the new school site.
“This demonstrates the council’s commitment to making sure there are the right number of school places, which allows children to be educated in their local communities.£
Rishi said: “It was great to see work under way on a very important multi-million-pound investment in education in Northallerton.
“This is a vital element of the North Northallerton development project, part of making sure the new housing has the appropriate infrastructure in place to support the families that will be moving here."
The school’s location is close to the new link road which spans the site earmarked for housing, ensuring access for pupils, staff and other members of the public is convenient.
