In July-August 2012, Colchester Archaeological Trust undertook a watching brief during the groundworks for the construction of two small classrooms (class-bases B and C) and the construction of an all-weather play area in the grounds of North Primary School, John Harper Street, Colchester.<1> The trenches for the classrooms were 0.60m wide and 1.20-1.40m deep. The trenches for the strip footings for class-base B revealed a deposit of demolition debris from a Roman building, probably of 2nd- or 3rd-century date. The debris consisted of crushed painted wall-plaster, tile, and CBM. No in situ foundations or other remains were observed, but the presence of the debris strongly indicates the site of a Roman house or other building in the vicinity. Trenches for the foundations of class-base C revealed nothing but topsoil and natural. All that was revealed here of archaeological significance was a small patch of compacted gravel which, to judge by its appearance, may have been the remains of either a yard or a minor road which led to the main road out of the walled town. The existing ground-level was lowered by 600mm for the construction of the all-weather play area. The excavations for two soakaways associated with the play area were also monitored. Nothing of archaeological significance was revealed.