Gorringe sees in new school year with brand new classrooms

· by · in Education and schools, Young people. ·

School is back and Gorringe Park Primary School’s brand new classrooms are ready for the children as they return refreshed from their summer holidays.

Gorringe Park Primary School new classroom

School children with Merton’s director for children, schools and families Yvette Stanley, Leader of Merton Council, Councillor Stephen Alambritis, Cabinet member for education, Councillor Martin Whelton and Headteacher for Gorringe Park Primary, Barbara Abbey

Gorringe is the latest school to benefit from the council’s £81 million schools expansion programme. Kicking off the new school year, Gorringe Park is now able to provide for an extra 210 children in high quality permanent buildings, allowing the school to permanently provide for 90 children per year.  The school will now be able to enjoy seven brand new classrooms, including an integrated early years block for reception and nursery children, and a new supplementary hall which allows all children to be accommodated for a whole school assembly.

New classroom at Gorringe Park Primary

Director for children, schools and families Yvette Stanley, Leader of Merton Council, Councillor Stephen Alambritis, Cabinet member for education, Councillor Martin Whelton and Headteacher for Gorringe Park Primary, Barbara Abbey with school children in their new classroom

The council’s £81 million investment in schools is in response to the unprecedented number of primary aged children wanting a Merton education.

Merton Council cabinet member for education Councillor Martin Whelton said: “I was delighted to visit Gorringe Park with the Leader of the council, Cllr Stephen Alambritis to see the fantastic new buildings and facilities at the school. This is part of Merton Council’s £81m school expansion programme  which is providing an additional 21 forms of entry across the borough in response to a 39% rise in our birth rate since 2001. As a result of expanding our schools, we’ve been able to provide all our primary aged children a school place, with 92% of them offered one of their top three choices.  At this time of unprecedented demand for school places in Merton, expanding our primary schools is vital to achieving our goal of offering every child their preferred place in the future, along with offering an excellent education.”

Headteacher at Gorringe Barbara Abbey said: “We are very pleased with our new school buildings. We have had two years of building works but it has all been worthwhile. The children are very happy with their new surroundings.”