Work begins on Wandsworth's first free school the Bolingbroke Academy on old hospital site

Work has now begun transforming the disused Bolingbroke Hospital into Wandsworth's first free school.

It will open its doors in September next year when the first 120 year seven children will be admitted.

The school roll will grow by 120 pupils each year until it reaches its full capacity in 2018.

Supporters of the school argue this part of south Battersea has a high proportion of young families but does not currently have a local state secondary school.

It will be free to attend, governed independently and managed by education charity ARK Schools.

The building work and future running costs will be funded directly by the Department for Education.

The construction work will be carried out by building contractor Carillion Construction UK Ltd. The designs were produced by Ryder Architecture.

Wandsworth Council's schools spokesman Cllr Kathy Tracey said:

"The contracts are now signed and work can begin on this magnificent project. South Battersea will soon get the state secondary school it needs and this well loved building will be rescued from decay.

"My congratulations go to the local parents who have worked so incredibly hard to make this happen. It's a wonderful example of a community led project.

"The new free school will give parents a greater say over their children's education and will add a new dimension to our borough's superb state school system. It will bring fresh ideas and innovations to the sector – helping to drive up standards even further.

"We want more local parents to seize the opportunities presented by the Government's education reforms and to consider setting up a free school in their area. Encouraging a diverse and innovative school system is long standing policy here in Wandsworth and is the cornerstone of our success."

Bolingbroke Academy principal Claire Edis said "We've been delighted by local parents' enthusiasm about the school and we're really pleased to be getting on with preparing for the arrival of our first pupils next September."

The internal layout of the Grade II Listed building will be converted to create a light, modern teaching environment. Heritage features, including the nursery rhyme tiles in the former children's ward, will be sensitively preserved.

A new extension to the south side of the building will provide a new two court sports hall. Three smaller extensions will provide new internal staircases to enable children to move easily from one class to the next.

Two outside play spaces will be provided within the site as well as a wildlife garden.

A new GP surgery is also being created which could employ around 20 staff and provide as many as 180 patient appointments every day.

We want to hear from those previously sceptical about the new school - are you still against the plans?