Headteacher Kay Johnson laid the last of the concrete on the roof of the new Village School building in Grove Park, Kingsbury, at a traditional topping out ceremony to mark reaching the highest point of the construction, which is being undertaken by the Leadbitter Group.
The Village School is being rebuilt as a centre of excellence for pupils with special educational needs (SEN) in a £29 million project led by Brent Council. It will provide the best care and education possible for children aged from two to nineteen with complex learning difficulties and disabilities.
Staff, children and representatives of Brent Council and the Leadbitter Group were all guests at the event.
Kay Johnson, who received an inscribed trowel as a memento of the event, said: “This is a marvellous moment to reflect on the superb partnership working which has led to the articulation of the Village School vision. The new school will provide our pupils with access to superb provision where they can realise their aspirations and truly belong to a vibrant community. The children already feel they have influenced the provision and therefore feel a part of it.”
Councillor George Crane, Brent Council's Lead Member for Regeneration and Major Projects, said: “It’s great to join staff and students in celebrating the progress this project has made. The council supported it because of the huge difference it will make to pupils and families. It will help transform the quality of the lives of some of the most vulnerable children as well as providing facilities and activities for local people too. I know these young people, their families and staff can’t wait to move into the new building and are thrilled at the thought of what it has to offer. “
Cliff Thomas, Regional Director of Leadbitter’s Central Construction division, said: “It is always a great feeling to reach the highest point of any building. But The Village School is such a fantastic project that this milestone is even more significant. The Leadbitter Group is very proud to be able to deliver this new facility, which will be a benchmark for the provision of special educational needs, not just in Brent, but nationwide.”
When completed in summer 2013, the two-storey school will be able to accommodate 235 pupils, together with staff. New facilities will include:
- Excellent music, dance and drama facilities
- A fully-functioning sports hall and a specially-adapted swimming pool
- The most up-to-date learning technology.
A new, specialist short break centre for families of children with disabilities will also be completed later this year.
The school also aims to provide facilities, activities and work-related learning for the local community and to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating when the work is finished.
