The much-delayed redevelopment of Wanstead High School and Wanstead Leisure Centre prompted local parents, including Georgina Brewis and Fiona Law, to demand answers from the council
A year ago, we listed Wanstead High School as the first choice for our then Year 6 children on the Redbridge School admissions portal. We were looking forward to them being among the first students to attend lessons in Wanstead’s new classroom block with its specialist art studios, or to queue for lunch in its newly-opened, purpose-built dining space. We also felt sure they would benefit hugely from a new state-of-the-art, 25-metre swimming pool at the leisure centre.
This is what Redbridge Council had been confidently promising for years, with assurances issued in November 2024 that, despite some delays, the project was still ‘full steam ahead’ and the build would be completed by the end of 2025. Unfortunately, communications from Wanstead High School during 2025 showed the completion date was being pushed further and further back.
The news that the main contractor, Jerram Falkus, had entered administration in February 2026 was devastating. We learned over the summer there was in fact no end-date in sight for the completion of the school part of the project, let alone the promised leisure facilities. This pushed us, and other parents, to draft a petition urging Redbridge Council to prioritise the project, which prompted the council to publish the first update since February. This statement revealed the works abandoned by Jerram Falkus at the start of the year ‘fell short’ of expected standards, requiring a full review of the site. Our petition received 2,154 verified signatures, making it one of only a handful to ever meet the target needed to trigger a debate at a full council meeting. This took place on 24 September with a large delegation of parents present. We presented the petition, asking the council to:
- Ensure the project is made the number one building work priority in Redbridge.
- Publish a timeline with milestones for the school part of the build.
- Set out when and how it intends to appoint a contractor for the leisure centre stage.
- Establish meaningful engagement through a public meeting and regular updates.
Council Leader Kam Rai did confirm the project was Redbridge’s “number one priority” and announced the new contractor for the school part of the build would ensure work was completed before September 2027. As parents, we know first-hand the negative effect of the construction works on day-to-day life at the school and the knock-on effects to teachers’ morale. We do not see this as a party-political issue, and we are grateful for the support we received at the meeting from councillors across the political spectrum. We now ask for the support of the whole community to keep up the pressure to ensure this decade of delays ends as soon as possible.
To read the council’s latest statement on the school, visit wnstd.com/whsupdate
