EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES
BUILDING AN INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION
Last year, Bickley Park School, an independent prep for boys in Bromley, invested £900k to improve and extend its buildings to aid the progress of the pupils. Here, they explain why the venture was an integral part in supporting children for generations to come.
All good schools share a common goal: to help transform their pupils into happy, confident, and successful adults of the future. There are many ways in which this can be achieved, but one aspect – the importance of well- designed and comfortable school buildings – is sometimes overlooked. Yet research has shown that a positive built environment can have a huge impact on children’s wellbeing and academic success, with learning progress boosted by up to 16%.
Put anyone into an environment that is run-down, and in need of improvement, and it will have a negative effect, whether that’s in a job, at home, or in an educational setting.
This is understood at Bickley Park School where staff constantly strive to improve the facilities by offering the best spaces not just for the pupils, but for the wider community too. The independent boys’ school was founded in 1918 and still operates from some of the original buildings, which are spread over two sites on Page Heath Lane, split into prep and pre-prep. Modernisation work has been carried out on both sites in recent years, alongside extensions to house new facilities such as a theatre and music studio.
Last year the school invested £900k to improve and extend its buildings. The work was carried out at its pre-prep site, with the construction of six new classrooms for reception and a re-fresh of its sports hall. The work transformed some areas that had become tired, while providing extra classroom space for the growing pupil population. The building work included strong environmental credentials, such as sedum roof and solar panels.
This project completed the cycle of investment in the pre- prep department, tying in with the school’s strategy of ‘building from the bottom’ – giving pupils the best possible grounding as they start their educational journeys. Creating larger classroom spaces has been a key strategic decision in response to the fact that boys tend to be more hands-on, physical learners.
Building work included; a stunning new Nursery; overhauling the pre-prep reception area and improving entrance security; replacing a dining area and staff room with extra year 1 and 2 classrooms; creating a dining room and kitchen facilities in place of two existing classrooms; improving the sports hall with upgrades to lighting, heating and equipment; building three state-of-the-art Reception classrooms. The completed work to the pre-prep site came
46 | TOMORROW’S FM “All the investment is geared towards the pupils, giving them the
best environment for learning that is motivational, as well as fun.”
rapidly on the heels of installing a new timber trail, outdoor classroom and AstroTurf pitch in 2017.
The entire investment is geared towards the pupils, giving them the best environment for learning that is motivational, as well as fun. As a boys’ school it is vital to tailor the curriculum to harness male learning traits; such as setting attainable goals which appeals to their natural responsiveness to a challenge and feeding their ‘what’s in it for me’ mindset. Providing the right environment is just as important as the way classes are taught.
The school’s next vision is for a £1.8m 300-seat multi- purpose Performing Arts Centre to benefit pupils and the wider community. The plans come as part of its centenary year, which will eventually see the contemporary building replace the current theatre in the prep department.
With an increase of 20% in pupil numbers at Bickley, it is imperative that the school offers facilities that both accommodate the rising numbers and support creativity. The new theatre will offer several layout configurations to maximise the use of the space and will include improved sound systems and acoustics to enhance and heighten the audience’s experience. Use of the rooms will also be offered to performing arts groups across the wider community so they too can benefit from the space.
www.bickleyparkschool.co.uk twitter.com/TomorrowsFM
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