A school in Stepney is the latest Tower Hamlets secondary to be transformed into a state-of-the-art education facility as part of the council’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. Sir John Cass and Red Coat Church of England Secondary School, Stepney Way, has undergone a phased development which is now completed following a multi-million pound upgrade.
In total three new building extensions, drawing together the refurbished main building, have been built on the school’s 3.5 acre site. The school features a new entrance, a mixture of new and refurbished general and specialist classrooms, a new multi-purpose performing arts block and a state-of-the-art virtual learning centre and building, and improved accessibility. External areas have also been enhanced including the provision of an all weather multi-use games area. The school will accommodate 1700 pupils aged 11-18 years. Mayor of Tower Hamlets Lutfur Rahman, said: “The works carried out under the BSF programme are creating top class educational facilities at secondary schools across the borough. Building Schools for the Future is not just about bricks and mortar, it is about the young people who will experience life-changing benefits from this investment.
Cllr Oliur Rahman, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “These better teaching facilities will further improve the quality of education in our borough and help inspire Tower Hamlets’ students to attain even greater heights for generations to come.”
Headteacher Hayden Evan said: “We are delighted with our new buildings and facilities and they are already having a major impact on learning in the school.” Sir John Cass School is the seventh of the borough’s 17 secondary schools to benefit from Tower Hamlets’ £300 million government-funded BSF programme which was introduced by the previous government and is being delivered by Tower Hamlets Council with building partners Bouygues UK. Managing Director of Bouygues UK, Lionel Christolomme, said: “We are really proud to have been involved in the transformation of Sir John Cass and Red Coat Church School in Tower Hamlets. It is a reflection of the excellent ongoing relationships that such outstanding facilities have been delivered for the benefit of the pupils and community they serve”. The programme recently entered its fourth and final phase. The final schools to benefit under the scheme are Beatrice Tate special educational needs school, Bow School and George Green’s School on the Isle of Dogs. Beatrice Tate is the first scheduled for completion by the autumn term 2013. Bow School is scheduled for completion in August 2014 and George Green’s is scheduled for completion by March 2016.
Bouygues UK has extensive education experience having completed 36 new and refurbished school buildings in five of London’s boroughs and beyond over the past six years, with a further 14 currently under construction or yet to commence.