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8 March 2010 - Willowfield pupils help plan new school
It’s an exciting time for Willowfield Humanities College. The school, currently based near Blackhorse Road, is proposed to move to a new site nearby and at an event last month, pupils got to have their say on how it should look.
Over 120 Year 8 pupils took part in the two-day event at Walthamstow Assembly Hall, where they learned a range of skills from architects, planners and cultural experts before designing their own plans for the school.
More importantly, however, the focus was about making plans for the new school that would place Willowfield at the heart of the Blackhorse Lane community and local regeneration plans.
“Willowfield has always been a neighbourhood school, passionate about being a part of our community,” said Eve Wilson, Headteacher.
“Because of that, when we started talking about building a new school, there was always a priority to make sure it would continue to be a part of the community. These workshops were a chance to get the opinions of those local residents who really matter – our students.”
During the event, students worked with council staff on everything ranging from what opportunities the new school would have to contribute to the local area, right through to community facilities and how to get pupils safely to their new school.
Year 8 pupil, Sarah Smith, added: “Obviously the new building is going to take a long time to build, nobody who is at Willowfield now will be there when we move, but to be able to walk past the new school in a couple of years and think ‘I helped design that’ will be a pretty cool thing.”
The proposed new school site will be behind Blackhorse Road station, and will provide enough space to take an additional two forms (around 60 pupils) each year.
20 July 2009 - Willowfield School update
Feedback received from the local community and key stakeholders during the public consultation on the planning brief for a new school site was very positive. The proposed new school site is on the old goods yard between Blackhorse Road Station, Hawarden Road and the Douglas Eyre Sports Centre in Walthamstow.
Within the feedback, concerns were raised regarding transport and access to the school, including the impact on surrounding roads. The Council will investigate these issues, and a transport assessment will be undertaken. A School Travel Plan will also be developed which will seek to limit the number of people travelling to the site by car and encourage students and staff to cycle or walk.
Eve Wilson, Headteacher of Willowfield School said
“I am pleased that local residents are as supportive of the plans as everyone at the school is.
We are looking forward to designing a new school that will be at the heart of the community, providing state of the art facilities for both students and local people.”
What happens next?
Negotiations to acquire the site are continuing and real progress has been made.
A detailed specification of the design will be produced in consultation with the school, carefully considering consultation responses from residents and stakeholders.
An exhibition presenting proposals will take place prior to the submission of the planning application. It is expected that a planning application will be submitted in spring 2010.
Project information
The number of pupils able to attend Willowfied will be increased from its current number of 600 by an additional 300 places, from September 2011.
In addition, the school will also be able to provide 55 places for ‘post-16’ education from September 2010, meaning pupils can stay on after their GCSE examinations and gain further qualifications at the same school.
The school is proposed to move from its current site on Clifton Avenue to a new brand new school building. The proposed new school site is on the old goods yard between Blackhorse Road Station, Hawarden Road and the Douglas Eyre Sports Centre in Walthamstow.
Benefits to the school and our young people
Last year the Sorrell Foundation worked with groups of pupils from the school, to listen to their hopes and ambitions for the project.
The pupils, excited by the opportunities that this project brings, shared their ideas on how good design will improve the quality of life in their school.
Here you can view this work with the pupils:
Willowfield Pupils' Brief (5.63 MB PDF file)
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