School moves to castle as a temporary home

Kenton Primary School, severely impacted by the heavy rains of September 2023, has relocated to Powderham Castle in Exeter for the upcoming term. The school had previously moved its students to two separate locations while repairs were underway.

Lorraine Curry, the executive head of Kenton Primary, described the experience as "amazing." She reached out to the Earl of Devon, Charles Courtenay, who resides at the castle, for assistance. The Earl generously provided space for the school to use.

She noted that the children are thrilled with their new setting: "It feels quite surreal coming to school down the drive, past the deer park, and into the castle. It has been an incredible experience so far."

Unfortunately, due to ongoing flooding risks, the school will not return to its historic building, which is over 200 years old. Instead, the government has allocated funds for the construction of a new school within the village.

Mrs Curry expressed her gratitude for the support: "We've been really fortunate to receive government funding to build a new school. It’s fantastic news for us."

Following the term at Powderham Castle, students will transition to temporary facilities on playing fields in Kenton until the new school is completed.