More space to meet Singlegate demand

Merton Council has purchased the former Jamia School in South Gardens, Colliers Wood, to provide much needed classroom space for the neighbouring Singlegate Primary School.

This new purchase will enable the school to expand from 210 permanent places to 630 rather than the 420 places previously planned with the school having three forms of entry, providing 90 places each year.

The Victorian building is Grade II listed with a modern two-storey extension providing an area of 2,290 m2. The purchase of the school was funded through a combination of council capital, contributions made by developers under section 106, as well as grant from the Department for Education.

Merton Council cabinet member for education Councillor Martin Whelton said: “This outstanding school is already heavily oversubscribed, and the purchase of this building will allow us to provide additional places to meet increasing demand from local parents. As a result of the expansion, we can also offer a top class education to more pupils through a scheme which utilises existing buildings, and would cost less than if we provided new school buildings.”

-ENDS-

Note to editors:
Section 106 is a legal agreement between the council and developer setting out the terms for the developer to provide or fund the provision of infrastructure, services or other measures on or off the development site.