Lord Adonis visits Hungerford Bridge Holloway schools' partnership
Lord Andrew Adonis, Minister for Schools, visited the site of
Islington’s HungerfordBridgeHolloway (HBH) project this morning
(Friday 14 October).
The Bridge School Project is one of the most ambitious educational projects
ever developed by the Council.
Since 2001 CEA@Islington and Islington Council have been working on an
innovative proposal to relocate
the Bridge Special School with
Holloway and Hungerford
Schools as a way of developing inclusive educational practices for all
children in Islington.
Works have begun to develop two new campuses for all three establishments that
will not only benefit pupils at the three schools but also offer the wider
community provision from early years through to adult education.
The total cost of the project is £23m and the balance has to be found from the
sale of existing school sites to realise this unique project.
Councillor James Kempton, Executive Member for Children says: ‘The Bridge is
one of the most ambitious education projects ever undertaken by the council
and will change the way that we provide education services to children who
need additional support. We are committed to mainstreaming special schools
giving pupils of all abilities the chance to move from building to building
and to learn from each other.
‘With the Bridge project underway we have announced plans to relocate the
second of our special schools and we will be consulting on plans to relocate
the third.’
Thanos Morphitis, Assistant Director Children & Families, CEA@Islington says:
‘These plans represent a long awaited and essential investment in children and
young people who are amongst our most vulnerable. Moreover, the investment is
being made in such a way as to ensure these young people will have, for the
many years to come, every opportunity to share educational and social
experiences with their peers within a high quality campus that is designed for
all children.
‘This project has been highly commended by the DfES and has had strong support
from all political parties, parents, governors, staff and pupils in Islington.
We hope that this vision of schools and services working together for the
benefit of all children and young people will result in a development at the
Holloway and Hungerford sites that all in the local community can be proud of.’
Ends
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The Bridge Special School provides for 150 children with autism and profound
and multiple learning difficulties. The school is currently located on three
separate sites that have very poor accommodation - a fact that has been
severely criticised by Ofsted. The school has waited many years for these
plans.
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The plans are ambitious and extensive and have been drawn up in partnership
with the three school communities. They will provide a quality of provision
that is second to none for children aged 0-19 and their families on mainstream
sites at Hungerford Primary and Holloway Secondary Schools.
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The provision on both the Hungerford and Holloway School sites will be
developed for community use.
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·The Hungerford site will have a Sure Start Centre and the Bridge Professional
Training Centre.
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The Holloway site will have enhanced sports facilities available for community
use outside of the school day.
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The three schools together are developing Islington's first full service
extended school.
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The Bridge School will also be providing outreach services to the wider school
community in Islington
For more information, please contact CEA@Islington's Communications Department: