Celebrating a milestone in relocation and expansion of Paddock secondary and sixth form school

The completion of the highest point of the building structure for Paddock School’s new secondary and sixth form provision was celebrated by the Council, pupils and colleagues at an event on 18 September.

Since March 2023, the council has made it a priority to enhance local SEND provision, focusing on creating an inclusive education landscape that meets the needs of all children in Wandsworth. By investing in our local schools, we aim to provide more specialist placements close to home, allowing children to remain in the communities they know and love. This approach reduces reliance on costly independent settings and ensures every child has access to the care and education they deserve. Our goal is to support all children to thrive within their local schools.

Councillor Kate Stock, Wandsworth Lead Cabinet for Children said: “As a Council, we are committed to ensuring that children with special educational needs have access to high quality local provision, keeping them close to their family and friends.

"I am delighted that we have been able to relocate and expand Paddock secondary and sixth form school, enabling them to offer the high-quality education and care they already provide for their pupils, to many more children in Wandsworth who need this level of support. I am so pleased to see the project moving at pace and to be here today to mark the topping out of the site. I, like the families it will support, look forward to the site’s completion next year.”

The topping out was marked by pupils and teachers from the school, Executive Headteacher Sarah Santos said: “We are very grateful for the dedication and hard work of everyone involved in making this expansion possible. The enhanced facilities in the new school will give the pupils even more opportunities for an outstanding education. We are excited to welcome the students here in the 2025/2026 academic year.”

Richard Poulter, Willmott Dixon’s Managing Director in the South, said: “This topping out ceremony is a key milestone in our journey to build a facility that meets the highest standards of accessibility and quality. We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with Wandsworth Council as we bring this state-of-the-art learning environment to life.”

Updates on the project will be regularly provided through the council website and other communication channels, keeping residents informed of the progress as the school prepares to open its doors.