Tessa Jowell's website: Rapid Progress on New Brixton School Site

Rapid Progress on New Brixton School Site

Tessa Jowell has welcomed the progress that has been made on delivering brand new state-of-the-art school buildings to serve the local community in Brixton and Herne Hill.

The Evelyn Grace Academy, which opened in September 2008 in purpose-built temporary accommodation, will move onto its permanent site on Shakespeare Road next year.

Tessa checks out the site of the new Evelyn Grace Academy on Shakespeare Road.

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Previously:

Tessa Visits New Lambeth School with Education Secretary Ed Balls

As the new school year started Tessa Jowell MP visited Evelyn Grace - a new Academy that will serve the community in Brixton and Herne Hill. She was joined by the Education Secretary, Ed Balls.

The Evelyn Grace Academy is one of over 180 new schools opening this term as part of the biggest school building programme for more than thirty years.

(Tessa is pictured with Education Secretary, Ed Balls, Principal of Evelyn Grace Academy, Peter Walker and Cllr Sally Prentice)

Tessa Jowell, the local MP, said:

"I am delighted that Evelyn Grace Academy is now open. It starts in excellent temporary accommodation and will be moving to a brand new building on Shakespeare Road. I know that the Principal, Peter Walker, will be an inspiring leader of this new school and it was an enormous pleasure to meet his new team as well as the first intake of pupils who were bubbling with enthusiasm.

"This is the second year running that I have been present at the official opening of a brand new secondary school in Lambeth and I look forward to another new secondary school - the Harris Boys' Academy - opening in Southwark next year.

"We are transforming our schools so they are fit for the 21st century and ending once and for all the days of leaking school roofs, freezing classrooms and even outside toilets. All of these were features of schools in my own constituency ten years ago and these are now conditions that have rightly been consigned to history.

"What happens inside the classrooms is vital, but having new state of the art facilities and bright welcoming spaces can inspire children and help them reach their full potential. It also provides a working environment that is fitting for the excellent teachers and support staff in our schools so that they bring the best out of children. Evidence shows that exam results in Academies and schools with new buildings are rising faster than the average.

"Make no mistake that this investment would be put at risk by the Tories. They have pledged to slash £4.5billion from Labour’s school building programme. This will mean that one in seven future school building projects – a total of 360 schools – will be cancelled."