Last month, Coombe Boys' School celebrated a significant milestone with a ground-breaking ceremony to mark the commencement of its highly anticipated school rebuild project.

The event brought together distinguished guests, including MP Paul Kohler, local councillor Lynn Henderson, school trustees and governors, representatives from the construction team at Bowmer & Kirkland and the planning department at Kingston Council, representatives from the Department for Education, Headteacher Mr David Smith, and the CEO of the Coombe Academy Trust, Mrs Esther Brooks.

Adding a special touch to the occasion, a group of Year 7 students warmly welcomed guests, while Sixth Form students showcased their hospitality by serving refreshments.

Guests headed to the construction site to hear speeches from Mr Smith and Mrs Brooks, and to officially put spades in the ground.

Guests gather for the official Ground Breaking Ceremony at Coombe Boys' School (Image supplied)

The ceremony signified the beginning of a transformative redevelopment that will provide students and staff with a modern, sustainable, and inspiring learning environment.

The first phase of construction focuses on the new Sports and Performing Arts block, strategically located on the far corner of the school site alongside the A3.

This phase is expected to take approximately one year, after which work will commence on replacing the 1930s and 1970s buildings, ultimately creating a state-of-the-art educational facility designed for the future.

In his speech at the ceremony, Mr Smith said: "It is fitting that the first building will be our Sports and Performing Arts Centre, perhaps the two areas that the school is best known for in the wider community."

Key Benefits of the redevelopment include:

• A modern, welcoming, and sustainable school environment.
• Optimised running costs, enabling long-term savings.
• A transformed learning space benefiting students and staff.
• Improved department organisation and enhanced outdoor space.
• High-quality architectural design that reflects the school's vision and ethos.
• Landscape design that carefully considers community use and neighbouring properties.
• A welcoming layout to support community access outside school hours.

Site layout enhancements include:

• Preservation and expansion of green spaces, with additional tree planting.
• A new entrance plaza with safer pedestrian and cycle access.
• Enhanced sports facilities, including a football pitch, running track, long jump, table tennis tables, and a multi-use games area.
• Optimised building placement to increase usable external space by approximately 1,100sqm.
• The new Sports and Performing Arts block will help shield outdoor areas from A3 noise and pollution.

The school's regeneration plan has been carefully developed to ensure a vibrant and engaging environment that meets the needs of both students and the wider community.

With this project now underway, Coombe Boys' School takes an exciting step towards a future of excellence, innovation, and sustainability.