Shahanara Begum: Newly built St Pauls Way Trust School had their plaque unveiled by Mayor Lutfur yesterday. Over £40 million has been spent on the school
as part of the Building Schools for the Future Programme. The new school will have its own theatre and art gallery as well as the very best sports and library facilities. SPWCS will also be the first Faraday Science School in London and this new science specialism, alongside existing visual arts specialism.
Almost two years after the symbolic ‘ground breaking’ ceremony – where students, school staff and local dignitaries celebrated the beginning of building works on the new St. Paul’s Way, a second event was held last March to mark the completion of the external construction work. This completion and official opening ceremony marks a newer and brighter future for the pupils, staff and parents of SPWCS.
The new school will provide many opportunities for local children, their parents and the wider community, and be a central part of the local transformation project.
The event was very successful and was attended by more than fifty people, including school staff, members of the school’s Trust Board, representatives of partner organisations such as London Thames Gateway Development Corporation, Tower Hamlets Council, Queen Mary’s, University of London. MPs, Jim Fitzpatrick and Rushanara Ali were also in attendance and delivered speeches. Head Boy Prince Ahmed and Head Girl Khudeja Kobir also delivered a welcome and speech. The St Pauls Way Trust School Choir in conjunction with the Mulberry Girls School Choir performed for the audience. Finally all guests were given a tour of the new school and later tea was served.
St Paul’s Way has been completely turned around since it was on ‘special measures’ as a failed school just four years ago. It led to a controversial move to turn it into a ‘trust’ school in a partnership between Tower Hamlets and University of London and is now forging ahead on the league tables under head-teacher Graham Price.