Two new multi-million pound buildings were opened at Redden Court School in Harold Wood today bringing new and improved facilities for pupils.
West Ham United goalkeeper David Martin opened a new sports complex, which will cater for the school’s 867 pupils, while the Deputy Mayor of Havering, Councillor John Mylod, opened a new science block.
The new buildings are part of £5.7 million expansion plan for the school and part of Havering Council’s plan to improve and expand schools over the coming year at a cost of more than £23 million.
The school expansion programme is aimed at meeting the needs of the borough’s growing population due to the building of new homes and an increase in the number of births.
Redden Court has been heavily oversubscribed for a number of years and the expansion will allow it to better serve the local community.
Councillor Robert Benham, Havering’s Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Families, said:
“The impressive new buildings will help our children to continue to improve their learning and to access the most up-to-date equipment and facilities.
“The additional investment in our schools will ensure that we continue to have top notch schools and keep the borough at the forefront of leading schools across London.”
Headteacher Paul Ward said:
“These new facilities will mean that in the areas of Science and PE we will now have 21st Century facilities. Our students are amazing and deserve the very best. We are delighted that Havering and the Department for Education have enabled this development."
During the opening, pupils demonstrated their science and sports skills to David Martin and local dignitaries, including councillors and school governors.
Over the next four years, Havering will be investing £33.5 million into its school programme in a bid to not only improve facilities and cater for more children, but also to improve its Ofsted rating which ranges from “good” to “requires improvement”.