Demolishing school is a "fantastic opportunity" claims headteacher (From Harrow Times)

Marlborough Primary School redevelopment will help deal with demand for school place

11:30am Tuesday 5th March 2013 in News By Jaber Mohamed

Rotten windows, crumbling walls and a building riddled with asbestos are the reasons a Harrow headteacher can't wait to see bulldozers move in.

Marlborough Primary School headteacher Julia Drozdowskij believes plans to demolish her school and rebuild it from the ground up will be a “fantastic opportunity”.

The school has been identified for expansion by Harrow Borough Council to meet the need for places created by a baby boom in the years after the millenium.

Its pupils have been playing their part in the project, giving their input into design in work mirroring that of architects and councillors.

With a reception block she said was literally falling down, the demolition cannot come a moment too soon for the headteacher.

Mrs Drozdowskil said: “Windows are rotten, walls are crumbling and the building is riddled with asbestos.

“For all these reasons it would not be feasible to keep the existing building and so a total rebuild is called for.”

Standing two and three storeys high, with more space, bigger classrooms and better heating, the new school will go up in stages over 18 months, with no need for classes to move to another site.

A new entrance will also be created in Badminton Close, the only cause of objections to the project.

Every year the school will increase in size by one class, starting with reception, until there are three entry forms.

Pupils have taken a similarly pragmatic approach to their headteacher. Year Four student and pupil planning committee member Ailsa said: “I know that this old school is quite dirty so we can improve it if we build a totally brand new school.”