Planning permission for new school in Brook Green

---

Larmenier and Sacred Heart junior school site will be completed by 2006

Larmenier and Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School will be rebuilt on the junior school site, in Hammersmith Road, Brook Green, after planning approval was granted at last week's meeting. The school was formed from the merger of Larmenier RC Infants’ School and Sacred Heart Catholic Junior School in September 2002 but the infant and junior sites remain separate. A new school building on a single site is the next important step towards securing the success of the new arrangement.

Of the £6.5 million cost, £5.2 million will be met by a government grant - after a successful bid by the council, the school and the diocese - with the rest of the money coming from other government sources and fundraising by the school.

The project will be managed by school governors in partnership with the Catholic Diocese of Westminster (which the voluntary aided school is affiliated to) and the council. Studio E Architects have produced plans for the new building, which is due to be completed by September 2006. Pupils and staff on the junior site will move to temporary accommodation on the infant site, in Great Church Lane, Hammersmith, in spring 2005 to allow work to begin.

Bernard Burke, the school’s chair of governors, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity to create something special, which will reflect and reinforce the school’s ethos as well as enabling us to realise the full potential of the merger. The new building will be an inspirational environment in which to learn, with a layout and facilities which are much better tailored to the needs of the children.”

Sister Hannah Maria Dwyer, headteacher, said: “It seems a long time since the project was first mooted, but the wait was worthwhile. The tremendous effort, the time involved and the input contributed by the many professional bodies to enable the planning exercise to get under way has proved to be a sound investment. How wonderful it will be for families to have their children under one roof, receiving continuing education in a purpose-built primary school.
The next stage will be to attract some local benevolent sponsors, interested in promoting high achievement in education, especially in the areas of sports, ICT and the arts.”

Local resident Denis Carroll, also a governor of the school, said: "I am so pleased to see the realisation of such an exciting project - the integration of the infants’ school, which my sons and I attended, and the junior school to become truly an all-encompassing educational environment from nursery to 11. What a great start for the children’s future education! A lot of hard work and the results are beginning to come through. Well done to everyone."

Hammersmith & Fulham MP Iain Coleman, who lobbied for government funding for the new school, said: “This is fantastic news for all the school staff and governors who have worked so hard - with the support of parents, the council and other professionals - to bring this important project to fruition. The new school will further enhance the already very good quality of education provided by Larmenier and Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School.”

Cllr David Williams, deputy for education, said: “This is a really exciting time for everyone at Larmenier and Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School and we will be giving the school our full support in steering this project to completion, enabling the dream of having a merged school on a single site to become a reality. Sister Hannah is an inspirational headteacher and she will lead the new school to great success.”

 

October 17, 2004