Holland Park School which has resided in same building in central London since the 1950s is at long last getting a 21st century facility.
A substantial £80 million investment has been made by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council into building a new six storey school on the existing site. The money was raised for the build through the sale of the southern part of the old school site for residential development.
This sale generated 105 million, which paid not only for the school outright but also for two high quality developments of affordable housing and it will further contribute a very substantial sum towards the construction of other new schools in the borough.
Cllr Sir Merrick Cockell, Leader of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, said:
“Holland Park is already an outstanding school with good discipline and excellent exam results. Now it has some of the best facilities anywhere in the state sector too. It’s a proud moment for the Council, the school and our contractors.”
Colin Hall, Head of Holland Park, said:
“We are thrilled to have reached the closing stages of a journey that began over a decade ago and which has benefited from the enthusiasm and guiding hand of the Royal Borough.
“We think our new building is ‘iconic’, dynamic, original and wonderfully constructed. It is a new London landmark, setting a new standard for such public buildings.
“We have every confidence that our students will imbibe its splendour and repay the investment by continuing to succeed so spectacularly.
“In a year of all time record results for the school, it is a splendid moment in time to begin a new chapter of history in the new Holland Park School.”
Sir John Baker, Chair of the Governing Body, said:
“The new School building is, quite simply, magnificent. We have watched it rise out of the ground with great anticipation and now we can see it, experience it, live in it and work in it.
“We are rejoicing in its fusion of design and functionality. We are proud of our school and proud of our new building: we will redouble our energies to ensure that Holland Park School continues to provide the very best in comprehensive education for our students and to repay the faith of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the community in the investment it has made in this wonderful building.”
Construction of the school building was completed in September 2012. Pupils will move in during the autumn half term. The temporary school will then be removed so that work on the pitches and landscaping can begin; that is scheduled to complete in November 2013.
