An independent girls' school in Pinner has been given the go-ahead for major improvements to its buildings and facilities.

Harrow Council's development and planning committee has approved the construction of a 25-metre indoor swimming pool and sports hall at the school in Beaulieu Drive.

The school hopes building work will start during the summer holidays, and the project should be finished by September 1999.

If all goes to plan, this first phase of improvements will be followed by a new library, dining room and centre for the performing arts in time for the millennium, when the school will also be celebrating its centenary.

Headteacher Christine Juett said: "We are all very excited about these new plans and are looking forward to being able to add swimming to the curriculum.

"When all the work is complete, we will have state-of-the-art facilities which will enable the school to go from strength to strength."

Heathfield was founded in College Road, Harrow, and now occupies the site of the former Pinner County School.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.