Living locally I have been following with interest the redevelopment of the former Brent (and Wembley) Town Hall as, what we have been calling locally, the Wembley French School. It is not clear what the new bus destination that will replace 'Brent Town Hall' will be.
The internal works are nearly complete and most activity is now on landscaping works. One can't help but be struck by the high quality of the work for this private fee paying school in comparison with the 'off the peg' cheap new school build in the public sector as well as free schools in converted buildings with little play space: compare these grounds with Michaela's tiny 'car park' play space benath the building and next to the railway line.
Many of the trees on the site have been kept which provides pleasant shaded areas around the buildings and there has been some new planting and landscaping.
The Lycee International Londres Winston Churchill is due to open on Thursday September 3rd to Years 1-11 and applications are open until Wednesday August 26th.
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| The playground on the space once occupied by the huts of the Town Hall annex - new primary building in background |
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| The front of the building which is to be a running track |
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| Primary building from The Paddocks |
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| Impression of finished building and grounds |
5 comments:
Still no news of the canteen menu and wine list though. And there's probably no uniform either. Everyone knows that kids can't learn unless they're all dressed the same. And they certainly won't achieve 'excellence' without a blazer with thick gold Billy Bunter-type braiding around the lapels.
The French, eh? What do they know?
Mike Hine
Ah, they call it a 'Dress Code' and not a uniform. No blazers with braiding and ties only on 'dressy occasions':
Winston Churchill Dress Code
While at school we want our pupils to express their individuality through personality and academic achievements in an environment where the emphasis is on pride in the school community. We have therefore implemented a dress code for all pupils that reflects our identity and promotes equality.
Please note that some items need to be purchased from the school’s chosen supplier who will offer online orders and home delivery.
The daily dress code consists of
TOP
white buttoned and collared shirt or blouse or polo shirt, with long or short sleeves (from any supplier)
– crested school jumper (or cardigan) in a choice of four colours (from our supplier)
BOTTOM
– navy school trousers or skirt or dress shorts (from our supplier)
– school shoes and socks or opaque tights (from any supplier)
On dressy occasions (field trips, assemblies, visit of dignitaries), we require pupils wear a tie provided by the School in two colours matching the jumpers.
They are silent on coloured umbrellas (Michaela) and hair styles (Ark).
Aims:
Through a rigorous, bilingual programme and innovative methods, we educate pupils to become responsible, creative and principled global citizens. We teach them to think critically and act ethically, to form and express their own opinions and respect those of others, to define their own life goals and to make sense of and embrace change.
Zut alors! This uniform stuff is all a bit un-French. Still, they're admirably inclusive in not specifying gender in the dress code so that boys who feel at home in the white blouse, navy skirt and opaque tights combo are free to rock it, as I believe they say, if they want to. Very modern.
Pity they didn't research it a bit more though. A 'Winston Churchill Dress Code' surely needs to be Siren Suit with Matching Gas Mask accessorised with Cigar and Large Brandy (bloodstains of Tonypandy miners optional).
Mike Hine
I've never understood this eagerness to 'embrace change'. There are 2 types of change: improvement and deterioration (stasis doesn't count as it's, by definition,
no change).
Do they want both to be 'embraced' equally? If so they'll be teaching their kids to 'embrace' NHS 'reform', staff-less banks, increases in food prices, failing eyesight, test match cricket only available on Sky, global warming, death even; all fine examples of one kind of 'change'.
(Anyway, from what I've seen of them French, they do quite enough embracing as it is, thank you very much).
Mike Hine
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