Keys to the new Aureus Secondary School are handed over.

The keys to a brand new school for Didcot have been handed over to staff who are busy preparing for students to arrive at the doors in September.

The new secondary school, Aureus School, in Great Western Park has been commissioned by Oxfordshire County Council and sponsored by the GLF Schools Trust which comprises 23 secondary and primary schools in the South East.
Head teacher Hannah Wilson said: “We are excited about the wonderful future this school has within the community. Our motto ‘nurturing hearts and minds’ will inspire students, staff, parents and community partners.
“I am passionate about educating the whole child and about the holistic aspects of education that are often forgotten in our high accountability system. I will make sure that we know each of our students as names, not numbers at Aureus.
“We will also be having yoga and mindfulness classes in our dance studio as part of the holistic approach I want to bring to the school.”
A number of stakeholders were present at the school to celebrate the completion of the main building works, including the governors for the new school and members of the Academy Trust.
Plans were initially submitted in 2015 for the state-of-the-art school which has been built on the site where a hoard of gold Roman coins were discovered more than 20 years ago - Aureus is a type of Roman coin.
“Schools play such an integral part in building the community around them and Hannah and her team will be making sure that the school meets the needs of this new community in every aspect. The building has been handed over so the hard work for the GLF Schools team begins; but we are certain that the future for Aureus is a positive one,” said Jon Chaloner, Chief Executive of GLF Schools.
It will not be until its fifth year that the school is due to reach its capacity of 1,200 students but there are plans to maximise community use of the building in the intervening period.
Miss Wilson said: “I do not want it to go to waste and I am looking into opportunities where we can let out some of the spaces. We want the community to be able to come during the weekend and school holidays and make the most of the gym, sports pitches and our flexi-studio.”
The distinctive building has been taking shape within the new community which is being created to include homes, housing, schools, leisure facilities and a community centre. GLF Schools will also be opening a primary school on Great Western Park in September 2018, Aureus Primary (formerly known as Chalkhill Primary).