Royal Greenwich Trust School (RGTS) has celebrated a topping out ceremony for its new £13.4 million extension which will "transform education" for the school's pupils.
The "exciting expansion project" will see the school, located in the Charlton Riverside area near the Thames, gain an additional 450 students when it opens in June 2020.
The school has now celebrated a topping out ceremony, a builder's rite traditionally held when the last beam is placed atop a structure during its construction.
The major milestone in the build was celebrated by teachers, Greenwich councillors and other members of the community.
Caroline Longhurst, headteacher at RGTS, said the new build "marks an exciting and significant point in the school’s history."
"The new facilities will transform the educational experiences of our students and provide a much-improved working environment for our staff.
"The school is certain to go from strength to strength and we look forward to a bright future ahead.”
The extension and refurbishments project, build by construction firm Willmott Dixon on behalf of University Schools Trust East London, cost £13.4 million and is funded by Greenwich Council.
The 3,485sqm, three-storey extension features new classrooms including science laboratories, a dance and drama studio, a lecture theatre with retractable seating, a food technology room, sixth form study area and a large, multi-purpose atrium and four-courts sports hall.
The new accommodation will allow for an additional 450 students, taking the school's pupil quote up to 1,050.
Cllr Jackie Smith, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Community Safety at the Royal Borough of Greenwich, commented: "This exciting expansion project will improve the prospects of children and young people attending Royal Greenwich Trust School, giving them state-of-the-art facilities to help them reach their highest potential.
"It’s fantastic that Royal Greenwich has been able to enrich local pupils’ education opportunities by funding these school improvements.”
The ceremony saw speeches by Professor Peter Heathcote, chair of the University Schools Trust, Cllr Mick Hayes, the mayor of RBG, and Adam Worrall, the director of Willmott Dixon London & South.
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