Changes Underway to Beckenham Primary Schools

Many of you will have noticed changes afoot at several primary schools recently – huge mobile cranes, fleets of lorries with pre-fabricated structures on board and a increase in people wearing hi-vis jackets and hard hats.

Worsley Bridge Primary School is having a brand new, two-storey wing built to allow it to increase in size from two to three-forms of entry.  Groundworks began towards the end of February and in March the first pre-fabricated units began to be craned into position.  The superstructure is now in place ready for cladding, fitting out and connection of services.  The completed building should be ready for the start of the new academic year in September.

Clare House Primary School is undergoing a more drastic change, to create a permanent two-form entry school.  While the children continue to be taught in the current building, a brand new, two-storey school building is being constructed on the old playing field.  Groundworks began in March and the first pre-fabricated structure was craned into place on the Mayday Bank Holiday.  Part of the new school building will be ready for occupation in September and the remainder complete by the Autumn Half-Term holiday.  A temporary hard play surface has been provided to allow the children to continue with games and sporting activities.  This will finally be replaced with hard and soft play areas.  Once the new building is complete, the old building will be demolished and replaced with a new, all-weather sports pitch and staff parking.

Bromley Road Primary School is in the process of a more modest change, due to the historical nature of the building and site restrictions.  The existing building is being refurbished internally allowing it to transform from the two-form entry infant school it once was into a one-form entry full primary.  The school is continuing to operate whilst the building works are being carried out, so complex sequencing and careful arrangements between the contractor and the school have been necessary.  Work started shortly after the Easter Holiday.  When complete in September, the school will provide teaching and learning facilities for older primary children and new outdoor sports and play areas.

Harris Primary Academy Beckenham recently secured planning permission for temporary buildings in the grounds of the Harris Academy Beckenham , while a permanent building is developed at the same site.  The new school, in its temporary accommodation, will provide two-forms of entry from this September.  Design proposals for the permanent Primary Academy building were submitted for planning approval in March, along with designs for a brand new Academy building to replace the existing one.