New school completes council promise

Brand new Isambard Community School opens it doors to students on 10 September, signalling the achievement of Swindon Borough Council's Promise 28.

The state-of-the-art building, which forms part of a Learning Campus in Redhouse Way, will eventually cater for 1,200 mainstream students aged 11-16. The school will fill up on a phased basis over a number of years, starting with Year 7.

Students will be educated in four spacious teaching wings each with a specific purpose - science, design technology, general teaching, and maths/ICT.

Facilities include a conferencing/television studio, dance hall, drama studio, main hall, dining/kitchen room, resource base/conference, and a youth room.

There is also a separate sports hall with changing facilities, and external playing fields, including an artificial pitch with floodlights.

Isambard Community School is the fourth and final PFI (Private Finance Initiative) school to be built at the Learning Campus in a joint agreement between Swindon Borough Council and ESSL (Education Support Swindon Ltd) in conjunction with John Laing Integrated Services Ltd.

The Learning Campus is designed to provide accessible and integrated community facilities, whilst maintaining a secure and safe environment for all students. Two special schools and a primary school, all of which opened in 2006, are also situated on the site.

Cllr Garry Perkins, Cabinet Member for Children Services, said: "The completion of Isambard means Swindon Borough Council has successfully achieved Promise 28 to build seven state of the art PFI schools in the north of the borough. I hope all of the students at the campus find it an inspiring environment in which to learn and play."

Sarah Hudd, General Manager of ESSL, said: " We are delighted to have completed construction on the final school in this exciting project, and look forward to working closely with the council and all of the schools to deliver services over the next 25 years."

Cllr Justin Tomlinson, "Local residents will be delighted that this new school has now opened its doors. On behalf of the Abbey Meads Councillors we would like to wish the school a successful future."