School seeks new sports facilities


A PLAN has been submitted to build a replacement sports hall, dining facilities and music teaching ac- commodation at Maidstone Grammar School for Girls in Buckland Road, Maidstone. The scheme involves the demolition of the dining


block and sports hall. A supporting statement said: “A two-storey L- shaped building is proposed at the northern end of the site of the existing sports hall, with themain sec- tion of building running adjacent to the site boundary andwith the second section running towards the rear of the main block. “This block will provide a total of 3,041 sq m of


floor area comprising sports hall/dance studio, row- ing tank and changing facilities, kitchen and food court at ground floor level. “Additional sports facilities are provided at first


floor level, together with extra food court space and teaching accommodation.” The school says the application, which will be de- termined by KCC, would replace “poor quality” ac- commodation with permanent specialist sports facilities. “The education authority concludes that it [exist-


ing sports accommodation] is not fit for purpose and incapable of satisfactorily delivering the sports cur- riculum. Their inspection has resulted in the identi- fication of new sports facilities as the key priority for the school. “It is intended to construct this block in two phases, with the first phase comprising the main ac- commodation of some 2,856 sq m and the second phase providing dedicated music accommodation.”


Phoneline plan


for health care A NEW, free service to make it easier for people in Kent to get urgent health care when they need it is set to go live by April next year. The NHS 111 service in Kent


and Medway will be provided by a partnership between South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SE- CAmb) and Harmoni. Harmoni is the largest inde- pendent provider of urgent care services in England, and was selected by a panel which in- cluded local GPs. NHS Kent and Medway is finalising con- tractual arrangements. When someone calls 111, a trained call handler, supported by health professionals, will provide them with a clinical as- sessment, without the caller having to wait for a call back. The 111 servicewill be free to


call and will be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.


THERE’S a rare opportunity to hear one of Europe’s leading young choirs in Maidstone early next month. The award-winning Monaco


Boys Choir will be performing at All Saints’ Church at 7pm on Tuesday, July 10. The choir, which has sung all


over the world and regularly tours North America, is cur- rently in the UK, performing at a number of cathedrals and churches. The choir, founded in 1973,


Pupils thrilled with classroom block


THE leader of Kent County Council, Cllr Paul Carter, has officially opened a new classroom block at Maidstone Grammar School for Girls. Buckland House contains 15 new classrooms, including suites for Eng- lish, art and social sciences, as well as a sixth-form common room and silent study room, which the girls have dubbed “the engine room”. The three-storey building has been


three years in the planning and took 13 months to build. The architects were Giles Taylor and


Lee Evans, from Canterbury; building contractors were W W Martin from Ramsgate; and project managers were Betteridge and Milsom. Cllr Carter was accompanied by Cllr


Gary Cooke, deputy cabinet member for children, families and education, Cllr Mike Whiting, cabinetmember for education, learning and skills, and Patrick Leeson, corporate director of education, learning and skills. Cllr Carter was assisted in the open-


ing byMrs Molly Tipples, chairman of governors at MGGS. The building, which is bright and


The new Buckland House


airy, with spacious classrooms and high ceilings, is the first new building at the school in 47 years and replaces a series of six outdated temporary classrooms. KCC put £3 million into the building,


while the school has raised a further £750,000 through fund-raising efforts. Buckland House has under-floor heating and a state-of-the-art air recy- cling system, which ensures the air re- mains still and fresh at all times. Orla Baldwin (12) was one of the


many students thrilled with their new building. She said: “All the classrooms are vibrant and now and it has given me a new attitude to learning!” Georgia Freeman, from Yalding,


said: “The sky blue walls make every- one fall into calmness. It’s just so calm and spacious!”


Katie receives Diana award


A STUDENT at Invicta Grammar School has been presented with a Diana Award in recognition of her contribution to the community. Katie Sedgwick (17) made


1,000 ribbons to sell to pupils at the school following the death in February of her classmate Amanda Slann. Amanda, who had leukaemia, had been receiving treatment at the Royal Marsden Hospital, Surrey. The ribbons, whichwereworn by staff and stu- dents at Amanda’s funeral,aswell as by her family, raised more than £1,400 for the hospital’s Teenage Cancer Trust. Katie also helped the school


raise more than £2,500 for the charity Help for Heroes. Teachers at Invicta Grammar


School nominated Katie for the award, whichwas createdin1999 in memory of Princess Diana. Katie, from Vinters Park, re-


ceived her award at West Heath School, Sevenoaks, where


Princess Diana used to be a pupil, from dancerWayne Sleep. Katie is studying maths, busi-


ness studies, biology and psychol- ogyandhopes to study psychology at university. She was events pre- fect last year, and has just been made deputy headgirl for her final year.


Boys’ choir to visit town church on tour of UK


brings together more than 30 children’s voices. Created to showcase the prin- cipality’s historic association with culture and the perform- ing arts, the choir is a part of


the Monaco Cathedral Choir and is composed of talented children as young as eight years old. Lionel Marchant, from All Saints’ Church, said: “The Monaco Boys Choir is a presti- gious choir and this is a rare chance to hear them sing in Kent. All Saints’ Church can hold 1,000 people, so we are hoping for excellent support.” The concert is free, with a re-


tiring collection in aid of All Saints’ Church.


Visit Downs Mail’s website — downsmail.co.uk


Pyjama party marks hospice


moonlit walk STUDENTS at the Maidstone campus of MidKent College donned their pyjamas to mark the launch of this year’s Heart of Kent Hospice MoonlitWalk. The walk, which takes place


on Saturday, September 22, gives participants the chance to complete a six or 10-mile route in the dark. Now in its sixth year, organ-


isers are hoping for a bumper turnout of about 1,000 walkers in a bid to raise more than £50,000. Walkers pay a £15 registra-


tion fee, but are also asked to raise sponsorship. The fun walk starts at 10pm (registration at 9pm) at theDavid Lloyd Centre in Kings Hill, tak- ing walkers to Aylesford and back again. Fancy dress and py- jamas are optional but the aim is to boost funds for the hospice in Preston Hall, which is celebrat- ing its 21st year. Both men and women are needed for the walk, and peo- ple are encouraged to bring friends, family and even chil- dren who may like an unusual evening out while raising money. (Children must be ac- companied by adults.) Some 4,000 people have


taken part in past events, rais- ing a staggering £306,000 Participants can upload their fundraising updates and photos on the hospice’s Facebook page. Walkers can sign up for the walk at www.moonlitwalk.org


Town 21


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