Pupils from a school in central Richmond will make a long-awaited move to new permanent premises next month.

Deer Park School opened in September 2015 on a temporary site at Richmond Adult Community College, where it has remained while the new building was constructed.

School leaders made a site visit earlier this month to their new home in East Twickenham and said they were "so excited to be so close to completion".

The school will occupy the first and second floor of a new development above the recently opened Lidl supermarket on Richmond Road.

Facilities at new premises

The new school includes a large dining hall, dedicated library and specialist classrooms for art and design and for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) lessons.

A multi-use games area on the first floor will support the provision of games such as football, netball, basketball and hockey on site. The area has been secured for safety and to prevent balls going into neighbouring gardens.

On the second floor there are outdoor learning spaces including a gardening terrace and outdoor classroom and reception classes will have a covered canopy.

Deer Park School is a free school sponsored by Bellevue Place Education Trust and will have a capacity of 420 pupils by 2024/25.

Headteacher Alexander Lee said: "We are thoroughly looking forward to the opportunities and broader horizons that this new premises affords our children.

"Schools, of course, are not defined by their buildings, and we are proud of the high standards and cohesive community that have characterised Deer Park School in its journey to date.

"However, the state-of-the-art facilities of our new home bring us an exciting range of possibilities for the future and afford us the ability to build an increasingly innovative and high-quality learning experience for our children.

"Our families and staff have shown exceptional commitment in bringing about this wonderful opportunity, and we are excited to continue working together to bring our children the best provision possible."

'Brilliant' space

Clllr Penny Frost who chairs the council's Education and Children's Services Committee said: "I am so delighted that the children of Deer Park School and their teachers are finally able to move into this brilliant new facility.

"I've been amazed at the resilience of the pupils, their parents, and staff, learning and working in their temporary accommodation for over five years. I would also like offer my thanks to Richmond Adult Community College for providing the space for the school during this time.

"Demand for places at schools in Richmond upon Thames is high – our schools are deservedly popular owing to the fact that they continue to top the league tables and offer excellent, inclusive education for local children.

"I am grateful for the work council and Achieving for Children officers did to secure this site for educational use and I will continue to work to make sure all our students have access to the facilities they need to support their learning and future success."