Rebuilding Brings Exciting Changes for St Peter's Primary

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While Hammersmith school also celebrates its Victorian past

St Peter's School in Hammersmith is looking forward to a bright future - while rediscovering its own history.

St Peter’s CofE Primary School is currently spread out across three sites in St Peter’s Road, Hammersmith.

Work has now begun to transform one of its two Victorian buildings which will eventually become a new hall and kitchen. The school’s governors have not decided what the future of the other will be but say it will remain in community use.

The third block, built in the 1960s, is being completely modernised allowing the school to have all its classrooms in one building.

As the work started, original deeds to the Victorian school, built in 1849, were found in a nailed-up cupboard in a storage room.

The documents bear the signature of Lucy Hannah Scott, daughter of the philanthropist George Scott, who set up the original charity school for the poor.

Headteacher Jean Shipton, says:  " When I saw her signature on the deeds I cried. This is the woman who had the foresight to set it up for children in this area and as a female headteacher it feels amazing to be following in her footsteps.

" It’s very exciting and from an educational point of view it’s better to have all the children on one site."

L-R: Esui Enkhsuren, 9, Khaia Szokolovics, 9, Chloe Balamaga, 10, holding a picture of one of the classrooms in the 1920s, Governor David Bell holding the deeds, Ruben Amara, 9, Jesiah Matthew, 10.

The development will not increase the number of pupils attending the school but the classrooms will be bigger and a new playground will be created as well as green spaces and areas to reflect.

The second Victorian building was used to house the school’s nursery which the school no longer runs. This will house classrooms until the development is completed.

The school is currently consulting on its admission arrangements that will allow a percentage of the overall places to be allocated to local resident children who do not need to demonstrate religious commitment. This proposal is very much welcomed and supported by the council.

There will be a number of projects based on the school’s history and a time capsule containing children’s work is to be buried during the building work.

St Peter’s governor Sara Curnock Cook, project lead for the building works, said: “This is a defining time for St Peter's. We have a wonderful opportunity to transform our building stock into a fantastic learning environment.  As governors we are proud of our school's past yet deeply excited about building the future, for current pupils and the children that will come in the years ahead.”

The work began in September last year and is expected to be completed in September 2016 with classes continuing throughout. It is being paid for by Hammersmith and Fulham Council and The London Diocesan Board for Schools.

Fundraising has also started for further improvements, including new computers, by school governors and the Friends of St Peter’s PTA.

February 20, 2015