New North Community School is ready to rise from the rubble of the old Charles Lamb primary school bringing the reality of a new innovative state of the art school one step closer for Islington.<br><br>In September 2004 Charles Lamb and Ecclesbourne primary schools were closed and the New North Community School was formed. The name was chosen by the school councils of Charles Lamb and Ecclesbourne in January 2005. New North Community school is temporarily housed at Ecclesbourne school. <br><br>The new extended school, expected to be completed by Easter 2007 will play a major part in the community. It will include a children’s centre and facilities for the local community, out of school hours. The school worked closely with the architects on the designs for the school.<br><br>It will also provide affordable housing, including homes for key workers adjacent to the school. The Ecclesbourne site will be developed for private housing, preserving the old school building, once the school been built. This housing development is providing the majority of funding for the new school. <br><br>Mary McStay, Headteacher of New North Community school, said “The whole school community is excited by recent events in the development of our new school. This state of the art building with its excellent facilities and range of provision will support our drive in raising standards of attainment to which we are fully committed. <br><br>"The children have been inspecting a model of the new building and David, Year 6, spoke for us all when he said "It's phenomenal!"<br><br>Cllr James Kempton, executive member for children and young people, said “New North School is an exciting new development that will bring real benefits, not just to the pupils using the school, but to the community as a whole. We have been working on this project for a number of years and I'm delighted that the bulldozers have knocked down the old school and building work will start on site soon. Not only will our children will have a modern school with state of the art facilities when it opens at Easter 2007, but there will be new homes for local people, including key workers. <br><br>"Along with the buildings works currently at Holloway and Hungerford schools we are changing education in Islington for the better."<br><br>Notes to editors<br><br>The agreement with developers Community Solutions for Schools Ltd (CSS Ltd) was signed on June 2005 and planning permission has already been granted. Once a safety survey of the site has been completed, work can commence from 30 September. Anticipated completion is Easter 2007.<br><br>The name for the new school was chosen following a competition with the pupils in January 2004.<br><br>Islington Council’s partners in the project are <br><br>• CSS ltd (developers), <br>• Sprunt (architects), <br>• 'Bluestone plc' (building the school) ,<br>• Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association (ISHA) (developing the affordable housing) <br>• Durkan building the housing and developing Ecclesbourne site<br>• CEA@Islington as project managers
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009