Blackheath primary school to be totally rebuilt

A primary school in Blackheath is to be fully rebuilt to update the ageing buildings, some of which date back to the Victorian times. Invicta primary School will have all new buildings constructed to replace the older ones.

The Royal Borough's Area Planning Committee approved the scheme, which is set to begin in February. Work will start on land that is currently used as a playground. Once the project is complete, the school will have space for 420 children, providing a total of 90 more spaces.

Originally, the school had two wings and a courtyard in between them. However, demand has constantly been increasing for places at the school, rising at a rate or around one more class each year. This has led to the use of two temporary buildings in order to meet demand.

Plans for the building include a two-storey structure, which will be comprised of a lobby with staircase and lift, toilets, group space, staff offices and nursery playrooms. The ground floor will also have infant classrooms and the reception.

The next floor will have space for a staff room, junior classrooms, toilets, office space, a library resource and storage space. Another building will also be constructed on a single storey, which will include the main hall, dining area and kitchen. 

Parking for 25 bikes will also be provided, with plans to provide a further 25 spaces in the future.

All of the current buildings that make up the school are set to be bulldozed, as they have been described as inadequate. As well as state-of-the-art new buildings, the site will also be landscaped to make it more attractive.

Councillor John Fahy, deputy leader of the Royal borough of Greenwich and cabinet member for Children's Services, said: "These are exciting times for Invicta, a popular and successful school, as it begins a new era. Along with the children and staff­, I look forward to seeing this scheme take shape of the course of this year. This is part of the Royal Borough's ongoing work to ensure there are sufficient school places to meet the demands of a growing population."

Published 20th January, 2015

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