Head says new school will be a centre of excellence

THE headteacher of a new £8.6 million school in Efford has said it will be a 'centre of educational excellence'.

Kim Dorian Kemp, headteacher designate of High View School, said the new facility in Efford will also be a 'warm, welcoming place'.

She said: "High View School will be at the very heart of the community, providing a range of services that extend beyond the school day.

"Not only will be a centre of educational excellence, but will be a meeting place for clubs and societies and an arena for creative arts, ICT and sport.

"It will be a warm, welcoming place serving as a symbol of regeneration and renewed hope for the community."

Planners this week gave the green light to build the new school – and Plymouth City Council hopes it will be 'key' to the area's revival.

It will replace Highfield and Plym View primary schools and promises young learners 'amazing new facilities' that the council, the school and the Heart of Efford Community Partnership hope will revitalise the area.

The 315-pupil school will be built on the Highfield site on Torridge Way. As well as learning spaces there will a sports hall, a performing arts hall, a studio with changing rooms for community use, meeting rooms and a media suite where youngsters can do film making and animation work.

There will be a 36-place nursery on the site, an integral Children's Centre and space for sports and arts for the community and children.

The proposals put before the council's planning committee were the result of discussions and activities between the architects, stakeholders such as the Heart of Efford Community Partnership, teachers, parents and children to make sure as many people were involved in shaping the look and feel of the school.

Children formed their own 'design pod' and worked with Plymouth architects The Architects Design Group, who are working on behalf of the contractor Interserve Project Services Limited, which has been appointed to deliver the school by the council.

They also worked with an artist in residence through Creative Partnerships on such things as the colour scheme and outside play areas for the school.

Cllr Grant Monahan, cabinet member for children and young people at the council, said: "A lot of work has gone into getting the designs to this stage – not just from the architects and organisations involved but the children and staff who have helped shape the sort of school it is going to be.

"We want our schools to be at the heart of our neighbourhoods and we are delighted that the young people and their families and friends already feel part of this – before a single brick is even laid! "

Jez Lavers, senior architect at ADG, said: "This is the latest schools project we have been involved in and we're delighted that our designs have been approved. We can't wait for work to start."

The new school is part of the Efford Building Communities Initiative, which has been funded by the South West Regional Development Agency and included a Masterplan for the sustainable development of Efford.

Projects already delivered include the new St Paul's Church and a new library on Efford Lane.