Schools set to expand to meet demand for places

Five schools in Eastcote, Northwood and Ruislip to benefit from £150million project

FIVE schools in Hillingdon borough are set to grow as part of the council’s £150million expansion programme to fulfil the growing demand on primary school places.

Newnham Infants and Junior Schools in Eastcote are earmarked to increase, in anticipation of more pupils arriving at the schools from September 2017 onwards.

Groundwork for a new temporary classroom will begin this week over half term, and will be built over the summer holidays in readiness for more pupils arriving at the school next year.

This temporary classroom will enable children in the area to access high quality education close to home, Hillingdon Council say.

The changes at Newnham Schools are the latest step in Hillingdon Council’s school building and expansion programme, enabling the school to accommodate an additional class in each year group, to meet the increasing demand for primary school places in the borough.

Hillingdon Council says it has been striving to meet this demand by investing £150million in a primary school building and expansion programme, which is ‘ one of the biggest in London’.

Cllr David Simmonds, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for education and children’s services, said: “Hillingdon Council is committed to helping children in the borough to access their chosen schools.

“The expansion at Newnham School is the next step in an ongoing programme of council funded school improvements and new builds.”

The council is intending to permanently expand Newnham Infant and Junior Schools, as well as Hillside Infant and Junior Schools, in Northwood, and Warrender Primary School, in Ruislip.

Additional classrooms will be added over the summer holidays where needed, minimising disruption to the school timetable.

When statistics on primary school places were released in April, Hillingdon topped London boroughs for families receiving offers at their preferred primary schools, with 96% of applicants receiving offers at one of their top three schools.Most got their first choice school, but 14% missed out.

Hillingdon Council is committed to helping children in the borough to access their chosen schools”