'Iconic' plane on school playground removed

A plane that has sat at the centre of a school's playing field has been removed after 14 years.

The plane had long been sat on the grounds of St John the Baptist Primary School in Colwick, Nottinghamshire, and had been a "big part" of it.

But after efforts to renovate it in 2020, the school said it had become unusable and made the decision to remove the plane.

It is now set to be repurposed as artwork but will remain a fond memory for children, parents and teachers.

The school was a well-known landmark to many and had been known as "the school with the plane", head teacher Rachel Ireland said.

She said: "It's been here for 14 years; it's been an iconic part of our school landscape.

"However, it's just something we've got to do to evolve and move our school forward."

The plane had various uses at the school over the years, including as a play area, a classroom, storage, and even as a place to interview prospective staff.

But in a newsletter to parents and carers, the school said it had become unusable despite being renovated in 2020 and would become a "money pit" to maintain.

Despite a sad goodbye for the school, Miss Ireland said staff and pupils were pleased it would be given a "new life".

The plane was sold to an interiors firm that buys and sells antique furniture and other items.

Its new owner, Jeremy Berry, said: "It will be an artwork at a festival in Lincoln this year, and next year there's going to be other plans for it."

Miss Ireland said the school would be discussing long-term plans for a new building as it moved into an academy trust.

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