The £36million rebuild of Chace Community School began earlier this year and is due for completion in 2027

Local leaders, school staff and pupils on the building site at Chace Community School

A milestone ceremony at an Enfield school took place this morning (Monday 14th) with former pupils including the council leader and a local MP signing their names on a steel girder.

To acknowledge the ongoing £36million rebuild of Chace Community School in Churchbury Lane, Enfield Town, students and staff were joined local leaders including Enfield Council boss Ergin Erbil and Southgate and Wood Green MP Bambos Charalambous – both former pupils themselves.

While the new buildings are being constructed on the school’s playing fields, once completed the existing main school building will be demolished and new playing fields created by summer 2027 to provide a net increase in green space and sports provision.

The new school buildings are being built by bowmer + Kirkland (B+K), which hosted the steel signing ceremony to mark the next phase of the build. It was then lifted into place by a crane.

Headteacher Tanya Douglas said: “Our vision at Chace Community School is to provide our young people with an education of excellence that will change their lives and inspire them to be the leaders of tomorrow. We are excited about our future and the amazing opportunities our new building will provide in helping us to realise this vision.”

Signing the steel girder at Chace Community School, from left; council leader Ergin Erbil, cabinet member Abdul Abdullahi, and headteacher Tanya Douglas

The current buildings at the school are said to be inefficient and energy intensive. The Department for Education selected B+ K for the project designed to reduce energy costs, increase useable external space and provide improved facilities.

B+K contracts manager Tim Parker said: “It is always very satisfying to work on the build of a school as our team know that their efforts will be improving the lives of all the students who study there, giving them an environment in which they can thrive and flourish.

“We are looking forward to working with the headteacher and her staff to deliver their hugely anticipated new school buildings.”

Cllr Erbil said: “As a former student of Chace, I am delighted that the school will receive significant improvements. Providing a good-quality education to our young people and children is an absolute priority. This investment from the government is a key example of that commitment. We are dedicated to ensuring every child and young person has access to high-quality education.

“The new, greener buildings at Chace Community School will help students grow and thrive for generations to come. I’m proud to see this investment in our borough and look forward to the benefits it will bring to the whole community.”

Also signing the steel girder today was Bambos Charalambous. Although not in his Southgate and Wood Green constituency, the Labour MP told the Dispatch he attended the school in the 1980s and learned to throw discus and play rugby on the playing fields where the new buildings are now under construction.

“I have some fond memories of the school,” he said. “But even when I was there [the school building] needed updating, so it’s good it’s now happening.”

Once the steel frame of the new main building is completed, off-site manufactured panellised façade units will be delivered to site and lifted into position.

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