Three schools in the north of the borough and one in Walthamstow were chosen based on their “immediate need” for improvement
By Victoria Munro
The government has pledged to rebuild four local schools over the next decade, as part of a nationwide programme to make schools “resilient to climate risks” and “net-zero in operation”.
This week, plans for one of the four schools – Highams Park School – were finally unveiled, proposing to redesign large parts of the campus to make room for “greater outdoor space” and a main hall big enough for “full-scale school productions”.
Highams Park School is a secondary academy in Handsworth Avenue that specialises in sports and technology. Also selected for the rebuild programme were Chingford Foundation School and Burnside Secondary PRU, both in Chingford, and Eden Girls School in Walthamstow.
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The Department for Education has so far selected 400 of the 500 schools and sixth forms that it will rebuild in the next decade and says schools were chosen “based on how immediate their need for improvement is”.
Highams Park School principal Nigel Armsby said: “Following an extensive design process[…] we are delighted to be able to share with you our proposals for the future of Highams Park School.
“The regeneration plans will make Highams Park a more sustainable and efficient school and our students will be provided with brand new facilities, learning in an outstanding environment where they will be able to flourish and fulfil their academic potential.
“Highams Park has always been a school which has proudly served its local community, and we want to maintain this close relationship by receiving our community’s feedback on the proposals.”
Residents are invited to attend a public exhibition about the Highams Park School plans at the school from 5.30pm to 8.30pm on 27th February.
Information will also be available after the exhibition at highamsparkschoolfuture.co.uk.
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