6:50am Saturday 4th September 2010
By Joanna Kilvington
Youngsters who require extra help with their studies are to benefit from £5m buildings at four secondary schools.
The Government is funding new teaching areas and improving facilities for pupils with special education needs (SEN) at Christ’s, Grey Court, Orleans Park and Waldegrave schools.
Councillor Paul Hodgins, Richmond Council cabinet member for schools, said: “The improvements will provide new space for special educational needs provision – something the council consulted on earlier in the year.
“They will also provide flexible space for the schools, to allow a variety of different teaching opportunities to all pupils.
“All the projects are subject to planning permission.
“If this is granted we hope to complete the improvements by the end of 2011.”
Planning applications have already been submitted to the council to create a new three-storey extension at Christ’s School, in Richmond, and for four additional English rooms to be built at Orleans Park School in Twickenham.
The new building at Orleans, in Richmond Road, will allow existing space at the school to be re-allocated for SEN provision, and will open up places for six new students with specific learning difficulties.
An extra eight pupils who require support will be able to attend Grey Court School in Ham, if permission is granted for its proposal to expand the facilities it offers in Newman House.
The school is also proposing to use the money to create a new studio space for design and technology and fashion and textiles, and to extend its learning resource centre.
At Waldegrave School for Girls, in Twickenham, a new two-storey science block is planned, with two labs, a preparation and learning resource centre and another classroom.
The plans follow a consultation held in February and March, when parents were asked to have their say on the plans for SEN provision.
The planning applications for Waldegrave and Grey Court are still being processed by the council.
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