Press Releases

Song and dance marks opening of new Featherstone Primary (PR 929)

Pupils will sing and dance, and their retiring head teacher will realise a 25-year long dream, when the new Featherstone Primary School is officially opened on Wednesday (14 February).

The children will share their impressions of the new site with staff and visitors, and Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for International Development, will unveil a commemorative plaque in the school’s hall. In the afternoon, the hall will be transformed into a cinema and children will be treated to films, popcorn and icecream to celebrate the occasion.

Southall’s new £8 million school was built as part of Ealing Council’s second round of schools projects funded by Private Finance Initiative (PFI). The £60.8 million PFI deal also includes the redevelopment of Acton High School and Greenford High School.

The new Featherstone Primary is built less than a mile away from the old site and features a large playing field, two full-size netball courts, a nature area with a pond, two ICT suites and high-tech classrooms with computers and interactive white boards.

The project was delivered by Seafort Ealing Limited, a special purpose company sponsored by King Sturge, NIBC and Costain.

Councillor Ian Gibb, deputy leader and cabinet member for children’s services, said: “Featherstone Primary is the first school to be opened as part of the borough’s second Private Finance Initiative for schools.

“The spacious new site offers a tremendous learning environment for local children and superb resources for the Southall community.

“Compared to the outdated and cramped Victorian buildings of the old site, the modern and high-tech facilities will give teachers the best tools to ensure pupils receive the 21st century education they deserve.

“This initiative supports the council’s priority of providing value for money services.”

Head teacher Gerry Curran, who campaigned for new premises from the day he took on the headship 25 years ago, described the new school as the “realisation of a dream”.

Mr Curran had planned to retire last year, but after winning the lifetime achievement award at last year’s National Teaching Awards, he was determined to stay on to see his life's work unveiled. He will now retire at the end of next month.

"It is definitely the legacy I will leave behind for the children of this part of Southall,” Mr Curran said.

“There is a tremendous impression of space both inside and outside the school, and a lovely feeling of newness and brightness. The children are enjoying the amount of space available to them and, as the weather improves, they’ll have more opportunities to make the most of the grass and play areas.

“Within coming months we will also introduce giant chess and draughts games into the school yard and take delivery of new sports equipment.”

The building itself is laid out in four units - Foundation and Nursery, Key Stage 1, Lower Key Stage 2 and Upper Key Stage 2. Each unit is colour-coded to help children navigate their way around the school.

Mr Curran added: “Our new classrooms are much larger than those in the old school and every classroom is fitted with at least two computers and an interactive white board.

“I would also like to express my thanks to the campaigning spirit of our governing body and the support of staff in making this possible.”

Significant landscaping across the new site includes a nature area with a pond, which will allow students to do practical wildlife observation and science work.

The first Featherstone Primary School building was built in 1886 and the main building dated back to 1901. Outside play and sport areas were concreted, with no grass in sight.

The new school was designed by Ellis Williams Architects and constructed by Costain. The ongoing management of the school’s facilities will be provided by the MITIE Group.

 

Notes to Editors:
· Ealing Council’s second PFI scheme was awarded £60.8 million by the Department for Education and Skills to redevelop Featherstone Primary School, Glebe Nursery, Acton High School and Greenford High School.
· The contract with Seafort Ealing Limited, to design, build and operate the new schools under the PFI Initiative, was signed in July 2005.
· Seafort Ealing Limited is a special purpose company sponsored by King Sturge, NIBC and Costain. 
· Featherstone Primary School has a diverse school community. There are more than 600 pupils on the roll, representing some 30 nationalities and speaking 25 different languages.
· One in five pupils comes from a refugee or asylum seeking family.
· The council’s three priorities are providing value for money services, cleaner streets and safer communities.