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| Bury Free Press, October 2005 |
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| MP David Ruffley has visited Abbots Green Community Primary School on Moreton Hall. |
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| Mr Ruffley, who was given a tour of the new school by head Alex Bedford said: "I was delighted to have the opportunity to visit this pioneering new school and was able to see first hand the impact of the cutting edge technology on classrooms and pupils. |
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| "The exciting educational innovations at Abbots Green include interactive whiteboards in every classroom, a plasma television communications system and The Den – a room for children with learning difficulties, with music, projected displays and light shows. |
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| "These state of the art facilities will make a real difference to the way children are educated and lessons are conducted," he added. |
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| "Abbots Green goes well beyond just providing extra school places – it is a completely new approach. This school is |
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| child centred. It is not a one-size fits all approach. And it does give parents another type of education to choose for their child if they wish." |
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| Mr Ruffley added: "Importantly, in this day and age, Abbots Green is also eco-friendly. |
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| "It is able to vastly reduce the amount of mains water it uses by recycling rainwater. |
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| "By the time I visited, the school had used a massive 6,000 litres of rainwater. This is a colossal saving. There are also solar panels to provide power and, quite incredibly, a plant-covered roof to aid insulation. |
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| "This new school is not just unique to Bury St Edmunds, it is one of the first of its kind in the country. |
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| "Abbots Green is a remarkable asset to the local community. Its environmentally friendly ethos and the vision of Alex Bedford have created what I imagine will become the model for many schools in the 21st century. |
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| "This school is inclusive and is not bogged down by catchment areas. Children come from as far as Mildenhall to learn here. Abbots Green offers parents a real choice about the type of education their child receives." |
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| Abbots Green is becoming an asset to the wider community, as well. A number of local groups have already begun hiring out the facilities on offer and during the closure of the Theatre Royal, in Bury, for restoration, Abbots Green will be one of the venues used for their productions. |
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| "School buildings can provide a wonderful resource for people of all ages. It is pleasing that Abbots Green is setting the example that when the school day is over there is no reason at all why everyone – young and old – should not benefit from their facilities," added Mr Ruffley. |
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| "I am sure all local residents will join me in welcoming Abbots Green to Moreton Hall. I look forward to returning in the near future to see how the school is progressing." |
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