Thames Valley has received funding approval from the Ministry of Education to construct a new $23.5 million junior kindergarten to grade 4 elementary school and child care centre in Thamesford. The school will have space for 479 students with 88 licensed child care spaces. The project also includes funding from Zorra Township for an enlarged gymnasium that will create an additional shared recreation space for the community.
Location/Attendance area
- Thamesford, Zorra Township
Project information
- Estimated completion: 2028-29 school year
- Budget: $23.5 million
- Capacity: 479 JK to grade 4 students, 88 licensed child care spaces
- Cooperative Build: Enlarged shared gymnasium funded by Zorra Township
- Architect: Nicholson Sheffield Architects
- Child Care Operator: Pending
Project Status (updated May 2026)
- In design
Community Information Session
The Thames Valley District School Board held a virtual community information session about a new elementary school for Thamesford on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Updates
Thames Valley District School Board Celebrates Historic $93.4 Million Investment in Three New Schools
The Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) is proud to announce the Government of Ontario has approved $93.4 million in funding to build three new elementary schools. This ensures growing communities in Thames Valley have access to modern, high-quality education facilities.
This funding represents one of the largest investments in TVDSB’s history and is part of the province’s $1.3 billion commitment to building and expanding schools across Ontario. The approved projects include:
- New Southwest London elementary school: A 934-pupil elementary school with 88 licensed child care spaces. Funding: $43.6 million
- New Thamesford elementary school: A 479-pupil junior kindergarten to grade 4 elementary school with 88 licensed child care spaces and in collaboration and funding from the Township of Zorra, an enlarged gymnasium that will create an additional shared recreation space for community use. Funding: $23.5 million
- New North Central London elementary school: A 514-pupil elementary school with 88 licensed child care spaces. Funding: $26.3 million
For more details about Thames Valley construction projects, visit www.tvdsb.ca/projects.
“These new schools will help to meet the needs of our growing communities,” said Beth Mai, Chair of the TVDSB Board of Trustees. “We are deeply grateful to our municipal partners for their collaboration on these projects and to the Government of Ontario for this historic investment. The funding for these new schools supports the board’s strategic priority of making TVDSB the best place to learn, work, and grow.”
The funding brings the total number of new school construction projects underway within the TVDSB to 10, demonstrating the board’s commitment to supporting population growth and student success.
“This investment means families can access schools closer to home, in the communities where they live,” said Bill Tucker, Interim Director of Education for TVDSB. “This is about more than new buildings. It’s about ensuring our students and families feel supported and connected as they grow and thrive in these neighbourhoods.”
Approval of the funding for TVDSB was part a larger Government of Ontario announcement made January 27, 2025. “This is the second consecutive year that our government has made historic investments in new school construction and school expansion, as part of the government’s Build Ontario plan,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Education. “Under our plan, schools are being built faster and more efficiently than ever before, so more students have access to a place to learn and prepare for the jobs of tomorrow.”
Josh Morgan, Mayor, City of London, said, "As London continues to grow and welcome new families, investments like these are essential to creating vibrant, thriving communities. I am thankful to the Government of Ontario and the Thames Valley District School Board for their vision and commitment to our city’s future.”
“On behalf of Zorra Township and Oxford County I thank and congratulate the Thames Valley District School Board," said Marcus Ryan, Mayor, Zorra Township. "In particular Chair Beth Mai and Oxford Trustees Dave Cripps and Leeanne Hopkins, for their tireless work and enthusiastic collaboration. Many people say that collaboration is difficult, and won’t yield results. They are half true: it is difficult, but that is just the work we do. It is yielding results today for our community and children in the form of a school, shared recreation space and a childcare. That is worth all the difficulty in the world.”
The TVDSB will continue working closely with local interest holders to ensure these schools are completed efficiently and meet the needs of students, educators, and families.
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