Science labs and art rooms from the 1960s will be replaced by modern successors. Upgraded facilities like drama studios and music practice rooms will be in place, and classrooms of all subjects will be lighter and better designed. We will also gain a brand-new learning resource centre for independent study, something that we do not currently have. 

Movement around our popular and busy school will be much improved, and the environmental impact of the school will be significantly improved. Crucially, the remodelling of our current single-storey buildings will mean increased outdoor space for sport and play, and more green space for students at break and lunch times. 

To achieve this, we will be demolishing around 70% of our existing classrooms, offices and buildings. These will be replaced by two three-storey permanent buildings, with the larger being available in about a year and a half.

What happens next?

On Friday 4th April 2025, we will be packing up the vast majority of our classrooms. Books will be placed into crates, and furniture (every desk and every chair) labelled, with their destinations marked in their new rooms in the temporary school. Computers will be dismantled, and digital screens removed from walls. All the artwork on every corridor will be taken down. Materials for practical subjects (arts, science, food etc) will have their specialist equipment put into protected cages for careful transportation, also over to the temporary school. 

From Monday 7th April, a commercial removal company will move the contents of over 60 classrooms, 15 offices and other spaces, into the temporary school. This will take all the Easter holidays to be completed.

How will you get the school ready for the summer term 2025?

We will get the keys to the temporary school on Tuesday 22nd April. We will then need to unpack boxes and set up rooms, as well as run IT checks on all classrooms. Staff will need to orientate themselves with the two new temporary buildings as they will not have entered them until the first day of the summer term. 

To give you a sense of the size of the project, there are over 2,000 chairs, 1,000 tables and desks being moved. Classrooms will also have bookshelves and cupboards put in place, and whiteboards and digital screens fitted in each room. The Easter holidays will certainly be very busy!  

What impact will this have on the students?

We have prioritised the exam prospects of students in Year 11 and Year 13 in the coming summer term. They will not miss any days of school, and we will continue to teach them in the parts of school that are not being demolished. Our students in Years 11 and 13 are already familiar with these buildings, and we can continue their exam preparation without interruption.

For students in other years, we will need to set some learning from home to allow us to pack up on the final day of the spring term, and then smoothly start the summer term. We will get all students in as quickly as is safe in the first week of the summer term.

It is important to remember that for students in Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 they will, in effect, be joining a new school. They will need maps of the classroom locations and tutor rooms, and need to find their way around the two brand-new temporary buildings.

Because of this, we will be starting the summer term – except for students in Years 11 and 13 – in a similar way to how we start the school year in September. Different year groups will have assemblies with myself and their Head of Year, receive updated timetables (with new classroom codes) and tour the two temporary buildings. After a period of time in school, they will then return home, allowing us to repeat the process with each year group.

How will learning be maintained?

We will communicate separately about learning for students in Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12. In summary, we will use Frog to host some of their learning on days when their year groups are not in school. For the times when they are in school for some of the day, we will also set online learning. This is not a full substitute for face-to-face learning, but will ensure that students have a sense of routine and purpose for those few days. 

There is a copy of the arrangements here and below, should families wish to print a copy and have this for reference. I will send regular updates during the Easter holidays to keep you all updated and any updates will also be posted on this section of the school website. 

Nick House, Headteacher

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Arrangements for movement into the temporary school

Student activity on Friday 4th April

This will be our ‘packing day’, when all areas of the school that are due to be demolished will need their contents packing up. Year 11 and Year 13 students will be taught in the buildings that are remaining, but all other areas will need to be cleared.

Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	Year 12	Year 13
These students will have online learning set on Frog.			Work experience.	On site from 08:30 until 11:30.	Independent study off site.	Full timetable. Onsite until 13:15.

Student activity for the summer term

The first day will be our ‘unpacking day’, when staff will be accessing the two temporary buildings for the first time. Year 11 and Year 13 students will be taught in the buildings that remain, as below.

Tuesday 22nd April

Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	Year 12	Year 13
These students will have online learning set on Frog.				Full day, from 08:20 until 15:00.	Arrival at 09:45 Dismissed at 11:30.	Full day, from 08:20 until final lesson, including period 6.

Wednesday 23rd April

Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	Year 12	Year 13
Arrival from 08:20 Dismissed at 10:00. Online learning set on Frog for remainder of the day.	Online learning set on Frog. Arrival at 11:20 Dismissed at 13:00.	These students will have online learning set on Frog throughout the day.		Full day, from 08:20 Dismissed at 14:00.	Full day, from 08:20 until period 4a (including lunch period 4b).

Thursday 24th April

Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	Year 12	Year 13
These students will have online learning set on Frog throughout the day.		Arrival from 08:20 Dismissed at 10:00. Online learning set on Frog for remainder of day.	Online learning set on Frog. Arrival at 11:15 Dismissed at 13:00.	Full day, from 08:20. Dismissed at 15:00.	Full day, from 08:20 until final lesson (including period 6).

Friday 25th April

Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	Year 12	Year 13
Arrival from 08:20. Dismissed at 12:15. Online learning set on Frog for the remainder of the day.		Online learning set on Frog. Arrival at 11.15. Dismissed at 15:00.		Full day, from 08:20. Dismissed at 15:00.	Full day, from 08:20 until final lesson, including period 6.