Helena Romanes School in Dunmow will change its name once it moves into a new school building.

The school will be renamed High Wood School, Great Dunmow - after the significant area of woodland adjacent to the building, which is a 41.5 hectare site of special scientific interest.

News of the name change comes as the Department for Education (DfE) has announced that Bowmer and Kirkland, who have built schools across the country, will be responsible for the construction of the new school building.

The school is working alongside Saffron Academy Trust, the DfE and Bowmer and Kirkland to deliver the new building.

Construction is taking place in phases, with the primary phase set to open before September 2026 and the secondary and sixth form phases following after.

Executive headteacher Catherine Davis said: "Being gifted a brand new school building is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 

"As such, the Local Governing Body (LGB), which is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the school, has been considering what changes may be necessary to ensure the school works towards fulfilling its ambition of becoming ‘a local school of exceptional quality’. 

"The LGB has been clear that the vision for the school needs to go beyond the building itself, to consider more fundamental changes that will help enact the school’s vision."

The school's new name aims to reflect the ambition the LGB has for the school and its future, as well as rooting the school in the community by including the name of Great Dunmow.

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As part of the LGB's commitment to the environment, he new school building is designed to be carbon net zero in operation, with an efficient heating system and much lower running costs.

Catherine Davis added: "The LGB recognises that the existing name of the school has huge significance for many members of our local community and that this decision will be a sad one for those who have fond memories of the school within the current building. 

"The LGB will be considering ways to mark the closure of the existing site, opening our doors to past students of the school before the building closes."