Educational Establishments
“We play rugby in the autumn term, and football in the spring term, with cricket and athletics in the summer term, so
... and looking pristine in October 2013
urgent delivery. If they feel they don’t matter, then this will be replicated when we need something urgent.” The playing fields cover a total of
forty-five acres which, fortunately for Neil and his small team, are all on one site. These are made up of eleven winter pitches, three cricket squares, ten tennis courts, cricket nets (artificial and grass), a 400 metre running track, plus field events such as long jump, discus and javelin. “We also have three artificial cricket
wickets, six sand filled tennis courts (installed in 2011), four tartan courts, and a brand new five-lane artificial cricket net system that was installed in the summer of 2013. In addition, we have a 110m tartan track and shot putt area which we are responsible for.” “Like a lot of schools, we play rugby in the autumn term, and football in the spring term, with cricket and athletics in the summer term, so renovations and changeovers have to be carefully planned,” explains Neil. Asked if the pitches are used by the community or hired out to outside agencies, Neil says that they are very
lucky in this sense. “There’s some outside hire during the summer to a local community group and a local cricket club, but our Old Boys have their own facility in Thames Ditton, so they have not need to use ours. The only time they do is for pre-season rugby training, when their’s is still in use for cricket.” “We do host summer camps and community club events along with various parents group events and, if I wanted to be highly critical and pedantic, then, yes, they do affect the work we are aiming to do. But, in retrospect, they play a large part in the school’s operation, so it is best to embrace these types of thing and work closely with those running the event so that everyone can be kept as happy as possible.” Neil believes that too many
groundsmen see their facilities as ‘hallowed turf ’ and become too protective of it. “In doing so, they actually forget that the grass is there to be used and played on and, as groundsmen, it is our job to facilitate this, not oppose it!” he states. “The staff are allocated their specific areas, but are not limited to working in
renovations have to be carefully planned”
these. It does help the teaching staff to have a point of contact they can go to if they need help with something specific but, being a small team, all staff have to chip in as and when needed; obviously, sickness and holidays being the prime examples.” Neil is responsible for the running and capital budgets for the Grounds and Gardens Department. These are submitted almost nine months before they are due to start. “For example, I will submit the grounds department proposal in December 2013, for the financial year starting September 2014/15,” he explains. “So, long term planning is required as we may be looking up to two years ahead. I personally find this is a very positive way of budgeting, as it enables budget holders to bid for the resources they require rather than historical budgeting, which can often be under resourced.” “Whilst capital items can be relatively easily scheduled into the budget bid system, any additional ‘running budget’ that may be required will need a special request, whilst staffing costs, such as overtime, need prior approval from my
... with installation completed in summer 2013
Completed courts DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014 PC 85
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156