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Islington Tribune - by MARK BLUNDEN
Published: 31 August 2007

Work continues at the St Mary Magdalene Academy in Holloway

Will £26 million ‘super school’ miss its deadline?

BUILDERS working on Islington’s first city academy say it is “touch and go” whether it will be finished on time.
Directors at the £26 million St Mary Magdalene Academy, in Liverpool Road, Holloway, have been assured that the first phase of the ‘super school’ will be complete for the start of this school term on September 10.
But contractors working on the site, sponsored for £2m by the Diocese of London, were less confident. One electrical contractor said: “It’s going to take about three weeks and there’s still a hell of a lot to do.”
Another added: “It’s touch and go at the moment. There’s lots damp and tons of alterations which have had to be done at the last minute.”
The work is being split into two phases, with the final phase complete next Christmas with concern that children will be working among a building site until then.
When the Tribune visited yesterday (Thursday), the site was still a hive of activity with tradesman, including scaffolders and bricklayers, all hard at work.
Tom Peryer, the Diocese’s director of education, said: “Building work on the Academy is progressing exactly in line with the project plan and we have been very pleased with the way the contractors have managed this complex project.
“As is usual with building projects of this scale, there has been a great deal of work in the final weeks not only to complete the building but also to install all the furniture and equipment so that the school is properly set to welcome the pupils on September 10. In order to ensure the school is ready, weekend work has been taking place in August, but the contractors have done their utmost to minimize any disruption to neighbours.”

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