Following a successful procurement exercise the London Borough of Bexley has appointed a contractor for the Shenstone secondary school expansion project.

Contractors Apex Ltd will be carrying out the works to the school in Halt Robin Road, Belvedere. The expansion is expected to be completed in time for the September 2025 academic year.

The school expansion will provide up to an additional 192 places for children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities, creating an ‘all through’ school that will take pupils from ages 11 to 19.

TKAT Academy and the Council have already met with new contractors Apex Ltd to discuss the plans and have assured parents and carers that they will be kept informed throughout the process.

As with a number of school expansions across the country, the school opened initially in temporary accommodation to establish a quality alternative locally for our young people. As a result, Years 7 and 8 are up and running.

Constructive discussions have been ongoing between the Council, the school and TKAT Academy on a range of temporary options. We look forward to providing confirmation of the arrangements shortly and recognise the importance of this at a time of transition.

Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Caroline Newton said:

I’d like to thank parents and carers for their patience and understanding while we have been going through the statutory procurement process.

We understand that the delay to the build due to issues with the first tender exercise and prospect of temporary accommodation has been unsettling.

Now that we have a contractor in place, we can look forward to building something really special for our children and young people.

I’d like to thank TKAT for continuing to work with us while we investigate the temporary accommodation proposals.

We will be keeping in touch throughout the different stages of the build and as soon as we have formalised the temporary accommodation will be back in touch with parents and carers.”

Parents and carers of pupils at Shenstone school have been updated on the contractor appointment via this letter (PDF).