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Work starts on new Newbridge Special School campus
8 September 2010
Press release number:PR1153
Work has started on the former Chadwell Centre
site in Gresham Drive to enable the Loxford Lane campus of
Newbridge Special School to relocate and open its doors to pupils
in September 2011.
The Loxford Lane campus in Ilford is
relocating to the Gresham Drive site due to structural and
subsidence problems with its existing building.
Work includes extensive refurbishment of the
former Chadwell Centre with some extension works, refurbishment of
the existing tarmac games area, landscaping and provision for
parking.
Newbridge Special School caters for pupils who
have severe and profound learning difficulties. There are currently
70 pupils at the Loxford Lane campus who will transfer across to
the new building when it is completed.
The school currently occupies two sites -
Barley Lane campus and the Loxford Lane campus. Work to the Barley
Lane site has already been completed and included the provision of
a new office suite and entrance, remodelled and refurbished toilets
and additional teaching accommodation. The improvements also mean
it is easier for the pupils to move around the building.
The proposed new building will provide a
modern, flexible learning environment to meet the longer terms
needs of the school and its pupils. It will be fully accessible
with the majority of the classroom accommodation on the ground
floor and will also boast a wide range of therapy spaces for the
pupils and visiting health professionals to work in.
The scheme has been designed to fully meet the
needs of pupils with a wide range of disabilities and includes a
hydrotherapy pool and a sensory garden.
As part of the extended schools agenda the new
school will serve the local community by offering a range of spaces
that can be used out of school hours.
The new site is an ideal location for staff,
pupils and parents as it's only half a mile from the school's
Barley Lane campus which means professionals and staff can work
between campuses with ease and without the need for a car.
Peter Bouldstridge, Newbridge Special School
Headteacher said, "We have been busy working with architects and
building contractors to plan the new campus for some time and now
that work has begun, everyone is very excited at the prospect of
moving to a new campus in September 2011. This new facility will
enable us to further develop the work of the school which was
highly praised in the report of our Ofsted inspection in July when
the school to be outstanding in all aspects of its provision."
