Rooftop pitch at Ark Blake Academy tops off new building

Thursday 5th December 2019
Ark Blake Academy

Ark Blake Academy has celebrated laying turf on the rooftop sports pitch of the new school building in Addiscombe, Croydon.

The topping-off moment marks a major milestone in the construction of the new, purpose-built school facilities, on schedule to be completed in April 2020.

Ark Blake, a non-selective secondary school will open in September 2020 with 180 places for its founding cohort of year 7 students. 300 applications from local families have been made and Croydon Council will send confirmations for places in March

Founding Principal Peter Shaw, said: “It is very exciting to see the progress to the building being made.

“Alongside the fabulous sports pitch being laid we also have first look at the classrooms that will welcome students in September.

“I am now looking forward to recruiting the team of teachers I will be working with to create an outstanding school that we and the Croydon community can be very proud of.

Founding Principal Peter Shaw wirth Paul Freeman, from Wates.

“We believe local children should have access to a standard of education that is a match for the very best schools in the country and this is what we will deliver,” he said.

Mr Shaw is an experienced educator who has held senior leadership roles at several well-known and successful schools.

He is currently Acting Head teacher and Deputy Headteacher at The Grey Coat Hospital in Westminster, one of the top 100 performing non–selective state schools in the country.

Croydon Council has identified a significant need for secondary places in the coming years and Ark Blake Academy will provide six additional forms of entry to help meet this need.

Interested in joining Ark Blake Academy and being part of our founding team? We are recruiting for September 2020, see our 'Current Vacancies' here.