Improved school facilities give
students a brighter future
The doors to the state-of-the-art Ian Mikardo High School in
Bromley by Bow opened last month following a £4 million investment
– through Tower Hamlets Council’s Building Schools for the Future
programme.
Focusing on students with social, educational and behavioural
difficulties, the school is part of the council’s ambitious
Building Schools for the Future Programme.
Lutfur Rahman Mayor of Tower Hamlets, said: “Education is one of
my priorities. The improved facilities at Ian Mikardo mean that
some of the borough's most vulnerable students are receiving the
best support possible, helping them to make a smooth transition
from school to the world of training and employment.
"The improvements also allows the community greater access to
the school's sports, vocational and IT facilities, so everyone
benefits from this investment."
The works included demolishing part of the existing facilities,
and rebuilding it to suit the school's flexible curriculum and
improved integration between the school and the on-site community
facilities which the students access.
Headteacher Claire Lillis, said: “The building has
been specifically designed to create a sense of wellbeing and
to encourage creativity. The environment complements the
school ethos and it really has become a school of the future.”
One student, George, said: “I like the colours and the
background. I like the garden. It’s nice and green and
smells like fresh air. We have computers in every room so we
can research stuff and go on the internet. The gym is bigger
and better than the old one and there’s room to play a proper
game.”
The school also benefited from a £425,000 investment from the
London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (LTGDC), to support
an all weather sports facility, a leisure area, relaxing garden and
an external learning zone.
A new, welcoming entrance to the school has been created and
students have been involved in improving the landscaping outside
the school’s beauty salon and career advice centre – both of which
are open to the public.
The all boy school, which currently has 30
students, was housed in Poplar for the duration of the works.
The development of the school is part of the
national Building Schools for the Future programme which has been
unaffected in Tower Hamlets.
The opening of Ian Mikardo follows that of St
Paul’s Way Community Trust School and Bethnal Green Technology
College.