Construction of an new school campus in Twickenham reached a significant milestone when a topping out ceremony took place.

The Education and Enterprise Campus in Egerton Road will house The Richmond upon Thames School (RTS) and provide new facilities for special needs school Clarendon School.

‘Topping out’ is a traditional construction milestone to mark the highest part of the structure being completed; guests from both schools were asked to sign a piece of steel to be installed into the roof of RTS on Wednesday (October 11).

Kelly Dooley, headteacher at RTS, said: “Our founding staff and students have been enthusiastically watching the building going up.

“Next summer we move to our new school and the future Year 7 intake will start secondary school in the school’s new building.

“Our permanent building will enable us to further contribute to the excellent secondary school offer in the borough.”

Clarendon School is currently located in Hampton. From September 2018 the new, purpose built building on the Education and Enterprise Campus will provide facilities and teaching spaces specifically designed for the complex needs of the school’s pupils.

John Kipps, headteacher at Clarendon School, said: “Today’s ceremony marks an important step in ensuring that Clarendon’s pupils have the school buildings they deserve.

He added: “Staff, pupils and governors can’t wait to move in and are excited to be working with our friends and colleagues at RTS and across the partnership to provide both a learning environment that supports our curriculum and greater opportunities for our pupils to reach their potential.”

In addition to the ceremony, year seven pupils from RTS were also invited onto the site and given a tour of their future school facilities.

The ceremony was organised by leading UK construction company Willmott Dixon, who presented each headteacher with a commemorative trowel to remember the occasion.

Roger Forsdyke, managing director at Willmott Dixon, said: “We are proud to be part of such a fantastic project and working as one team, we are excited to deliver a building that will leave a lasting legacy for students, staff and people in the community to enjoy for many years to come.”

RTS opened September 2017 - while the building work is underway it is temporarily based inside Richmond upon Thames College.

It is governed by The Richmond upon Thames School Trust, made up of partners including Harlequins, Haymarket Media Group, Richmond upon Thames College, Achieving for Children and Richmond Council.