Bishop visits school to open new building

A DAY of celebration took place whereby the Bishop of London visited a school to officially open a new building.

On Tuesday (22) the upper and lower sections of Bishop Ramsey CE School, in Hume Way, Ruislip, were joined together on a single site following a £22m building project.

The new building will enable all the school's 1,250 students to be taught in state-of-the-art accommodation including specialist rooms for science, music, art, design and technology, ICT and drama. The new building also contains a beautiful three-storey entrance atrium and spacious social areas.

Leading the celebrations, the Bishop of London, Dr Richard Chartres, offered a prayer of dedication for the new building and led a service in the new chapel.

He said: "I was mightily impressed by the bright young individuals who showed me around the school and it is pleasing that they will benefit from this inspirational new development.

"Diocese of London schools educate 50,000 pupils across London and Bishop Ramsey, rated "outstanding" in its most recent Ofsted report, is a wonderful example of the success of Church schools in the capital."

Speaking about the opening, headteacher Andrew Wilcock, said: "This is a great day for Bishop Ramsey School. It marks the fulfilment of a dream that dates back to the foundation of the school in 1977.

"It also calls in a new era, in which this school can enjoy being a single community and benefit from really outstanding facilities for learning."

On the day, student guides gave tours of the new facilities, followed by English, maths, science, drama and dance showcases.

Chris Spencer, director of education and children's services at Hillingdon Council, said: "The impressive new building will enable all of the young people who attend the school to be taught on a single site.

"It will offer modern, specialist learning facilities, which is great news for both pupils and staff at the school."