5:14pm Friday 3rd July 2009
By Rebecca Lowe
PUPILS and teachers celebrated the rebuilding of their school at a special topping out ceremony yesterday.
The event, at the new East Barnet School site, in Chestnut Grove, marked the completion of the construction of the concrete frame of the building.
Pupils joined the Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Brian Coleman, in applying the finishing touches to the structure, while the contractors, VINCI Construction UK Ltd, presented a commemorative silver trowel to headteacher Nick Christou.
Councillor Robert Rams, cabinet member for investment in learning, said: “Ensuring a bright future for children and young people is one of our top priorities.
“The new East Barnet School building has become an impressive local landmark. When it is completed, it will also be a beacon for the excellent education which we are proud to provide in Barnet.”
Graham Cocking, managing director of VINCI Construction UK Ltd, said: “We are very pleased to be associated with such a significant project.
"Barnet is rightly renowned for the high quality of its education service, and for achieving high standards in delivering major projects such as this.”
The building, for 1,350 pupils and 150 staff, is due for completion in late 2010.
Some of its features, such as sports facilities, drama and the main auditorium, will be available for community use.
There will also be an all-weather sports pitch, a multi-use games area and a state-of-the-art science department with a robotics laboratory and a "drop zone" for testing gravity, flight and other scientific concepts.
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