Surrey Schools’ biggest expansion: Funding announced for 1,000-seat addition to Clayton Heights Secondary
From left, Surrey Board of Education Trustee Laurae McNally, Board Chair Gary Tymoschuk, Clayton Heights Secondary principal Ian McGennis, Assistant Superintendent Shauna Ross, Surrey Principals' & Vice-Principals' Association representative Jennifer Tarnowski, Premier David Eby, Capital Project Office (CPO) Executive Director Dave Riley, Surrey DPAC President Anne Whitmore, and CPO associate directors Autumn Sweet and Trevor Wong. (Photos by Jacob Zinn)
In a record-setting funding announcement, the provincial government has committed $90.4 million for a 41-classroom, 1,000-seat addition to Clayton Heights Secondary – the biggest expansion in Surrey Schools history.
Announced Thursday (Sept. 4) by Premier David Eby, the four-storey addition will effectively double the school’s current capacity of 1,000, providing much needed overcrowding relief. While the district had previously sought a 20-classroom, 500-seat addition for Clayton Heights, anticipated development stemming from the Langley SkyTrain expansion paired with the school’s current enrolment at 33.4% above capacity demonstrated the need for a larger addition, with the benefit of cost savings compared to building two separate additions.
Premier David Eby and Surrey Board of Education Chair Gary Tymoschuk were on hand Thursday morning to announce funding for a four-storey, 1,000-seat addition to Clayton Heights Secondary. (Photos by Jacob Zinn)
“The Surrey Board of Education is thrilled to stand alongside the Province today to announce this four-storey, 41-classroom addition,” said Board Chair Gary Tymoschuk. “New school buildings are so much more than bricks and mortar – designing new school space means creating and environment where students can be inspired, where creativity and innovation can flourish, and where the community can grow stronger together.
“Our ongoing partnership with the province makes moments like today’s announcement especially meaningful.”
The project is the largest addition since Fleetwood Park Secondary’s 800-seat addition was announced last year, and will follow a simplified design in order to keep building costs down and open classrooms sooner.
The addition will include a neighbourhood learning centre to be used for child care and Indigenous learning spaces. It will also feature enhanced science and technology labs, a modern gymnasium, media rooms, an active living studio, a new dance studio, rooms for students with diverse learning needs, and upgraded arts and foods spaces.
The project joins a growing list of government-funded secondary expansions in the district:
- Kwantlen Park Secondary (20 classrooms, scheduled for occupancy spring 2028)
- Guildford Park Secondary (18 classrooms, scheduled for occupancy spring 2028)
- Tamanawis Secondary (23 classrooms, scheduled for occupancy spring 2028)
- Fleetwood Park Secondary (32 classrooms, scheduled for occupancy January 2029)
Collectively, the five funded additions will create 3,325 spaces for secondary students upon opening. The Ministry has also expressed support, pending funding approval, for a 20-classroom addition to Grandview Heights Secondary.
In 2018, the district opened nearby École Salish Secondary, creating 1,500 student spaces and taking some of the enrolment pressure off of Clayton Heights and Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary. However, the area has seen considerable development since then – prompting the openings of Maddaugh Elementary and Regent Road Elementary – and is expected to continue, bringing more families to Surrey.
The Clayton Heights Secondary addition is anticipated to be completed in fall 2029.
