building for the future
Progress Report
This page provides progress reports on the new buildings project.
New Junior Girls' School
- Bolton School is delighted to announce the building of a new school for Junior Girls, aged 7 to 11 years. The School's Governing Body has officially given the go ahead for the project, which it is expected will cost in the region of £5 million.
- The new three-storey building will be erected on the site of the old Infants' School, which has recently moved to brand new premises on Dobson Road.
- Building will begin over the summer and the School is delighted that the building work will be undertaken by Bolton based contractors G & J Seddon, who also completed the construction of the new Infants' School (for boys and girls aged 4 to 7 years). Start date is Monday 13 July 2009 and the finish date should be end of July 2010 - a 53/54 week contract, with the new school opening ready for the 2010/11 academic year, subject to any adverse weather or other unforeseen issues.
- Head of the Girls' Division at Bolton School, Mrs Gill Richards, said: "We are thrilled that building work will commence on the purpose-built state-of-the-art Junior School. This is a major investment in the lives of young girls across the region. Large classrooms and outstanding facilities will help us to deliver an education which combines the best of tradition and innovation. Moving the Junior School to their own site will also free up more classroom space in the Senior School and allow us to expand our curriculum provision."
- Clerk and Treasurer at the School, Mr Simon Marsden, said: "This is Phase II in our £18 million building programme and it represents the next very exciting stage in Bolton School's development as we seek to offer the very best in education for future generations from across the region."
- Mrs Sarah Wilson, the Head of the Girls' Junior School, commented: "I am very proud to be leading the talented and dedicated Junior Staff Team in this most significant of events in the history of The Junior School at Bolton School Girls' Division. The girls, staff, parents, governors and I warmly welcome this exciting development and eagerly await the move to our new premises next year. The new build will provide our pupils and future generations with a unique opportunity to continue to develop their full potential in a very happy and caring community, perpetuating Lord Leverhulme's legacy."
- The 'site logistics - girls' junior’ form (downloadable below) illustrates the latest proposed implications to the site in terms of access routes, safety measures and boundary fencing. The recently created Grounds Committee will be the school wide forum to discuss all of the consequential matters – the inaugural meeting is Monday 6th July and involves three representatives from each Division.
- Beech House should be demolished during the summer holidays….! Anyone wishing to photograph this should contact John Newbould - jnewbould@boltonschool.org - for access arrangements.
- There will be a 2 metre high panel fence around most of the construction site (same as used for the new Beech House site) and mesh fencing to some parts.
A webcam will be installed on the Arts Centre to monitor the build, as we did for the previous phase.
- Most of the construction vehicular access will be from the existing Tudor Avenue grounds maintenance entrance, although some access will be needed at evenings and weekends through the Centre Archway. The pitch nominated for use by the Contractor will be reinstated with the appropriate drainage schemes just after Practical Completion.
- Staff parking will be largely unaffected and it is hoped some additional temporary spaces will be available on the old Beech House playground adjacent to the perimeter site fencing. There will be some impact to the out of hours parking for parents’ evenings, concerts and other events – the Estates and Arts Centre team will endeavour to manage this efficiently as possible.
- By the beginning of September, all the fencing will have been erected, site cabins and materials yard installed, Beech House demolished and hopefully the steel frame of the new building will be visible.
Infants' School - Beech House
- Bolton School took "ownership” of the new Infants’ School on 11 May 2009. The following three weeks then saw the new building being prepared with all the required new and existing equipment, apparatus and learning materials, and the staff becoming familiar with everything inside and out.
- The first day of real activity was Monday 1 June when, amongst much excitement, all pupils and staff processed from the old Beech House to their brand new school, carrying balloons and singing songs. They were cheered on by parents and well-wishers. You can read the story of this day by clicking here.
- The official opening, the details of which are yet to be finalised, is expected to take place in Autumn 2009 or Spring 2010.
- A foundation stone was laid on 12 December 2008 by the former Chairman of Governors, Sir Alan Cockshaw - read the story here.
- The Scheme was within budget and outcome cost was circa £5 Million.
- Following consultation with parents and children it was decided that the name of the Infants' School should remain as Beech House.
Boys' Junior School
- This project was completed on 18 May 2009 and pupils and staff are enjoying their new facilities and extra space. Read the story here.
- Head of Junior Boys, Mr Stephen Whittaker, said: "Pupils and staff are really enjoying our new facilities and I know future generations will too. The extended building, providing larger classrooms, and the refurbished facilities, including the dining hall and a wonderful new library have allowed boys to benefit from the extra space and the very latest equipment. I am personally delighted with our new-look school; it means we can continue to offer the very best in junior school education in even better accommodation."
- The work includes a permanent extension to the main school, comprising two Year 6 classrooms, a new library, changing rooms and showers, storage facilities, staff/visitor toilets, staff accommodation and a kitchen/dining hall.
- Now that the Contractor has finished, internal and external refurbishments will take place over the summer.
- The reconfigured reception area and office accommodation was ready in September 2008.
- Outcome cost was circa £1.5 Million.
Sixth Form Centre
- Outline designs continue to be discussed with both Heads, the planners and members of the Governing Body.
- Plans are in place to engage in a strategic dialogue with the local council regarding travel and transport issues affecting the School.
- The School has been encouraged to present a selection of ideas at a regional design panel, which includes representatives from English Heritage - it is hoped this tactic will ease the political journey the Sixth Form Centre could take with the Council's planning committee.