Writes Daniel Fennell, Head of Operations
As soon as the pupils left the school site on the last day of term, an army of contractors began to arrive on site to help us deliver our annual programme of summer works.
Each year, the school embarks on a packed schedule of works which cover a huge variety of needs. The focus of the works is primarily on improving the environment for teaching and learning year on year, but there are also other factors which influence what gets done. Some works are obvious and eye catching and make a real impact when pupils return, such as the refurbished Sixth Form Centre, or the newly expanded updated Chemistry Labs. Other projects are less noticeable, but vitally important in maintaining a safe and compliant site, such as statutory inspections of fire alarm systems, legionella testing, annual servicing programmes – the list goes on.
Planning for each programme of works begins at the start of each academic year and the scope and volume of work is refined throughout the year so that when the summer break is upon us, we can get started with making improvements straight away. Some of the less disruptive jobs can be programmed into the academic year, either during term time, or during the half term breaks, but it is the summer break that gives us the time and opportunity to take on the biggest projects.
This year, the more obvious ‘highlights’ of the works included:
- Expansion and refurbishment of a new Chemistry Lab, store, and Technicians Prep Room
- Complete refurbishment and redesign of the Sixth Form Common Room
- Full refurbishments to seven classrooms including new carpets, new furniture, new IT/AV installations and murals on the rear walls.
- Replacements windows to classrooms offering increased thermal efficiency.
- Creation of the ‘Everson Gallery’ a dedicated exhibition space for artwork.
- Repairs to the canopies on either end of the Great Hall.
- Newly retiled swimming pool surround and pool cover.
In addition to this, over 70 other maintenance works were completed, many using the school’s in-house Maintenance Team. Our IT department remained busy supporting all the IT/AV related aspects of the various projects, as well as undertaking vital updating work and preparing for the new pupils and new staff joining us this year.
The Grounds Department have battled against numerous heatwaves in an effort to keep the site looking its best and preparing the rugby pitches ensuring they were ready for the pre-season training sessions that ran recently. As if looking after the vast expanse of grounds was not enough, we also hosted Middlesex Cricket for a number of T20 and County Championship matches.
Throughout the summer, a core team of employees ensured the school continued to pay its bills, feed its staff, clean up after everyone, set up for events… we could go on.
We sincerely hope your son enjoys the benefits of these improvements across the site and would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of those who worked throughout the summer in hot and dusty conditions to ensure those coming back for the Autumn Term, were coming back to an even more impressive site.
Though they do not do justice to the volume of work undertaken this summer, some photos showing examples of work undertaken are shown below.
Chemistry Labs
Before during construction phase:
After:
Newly retiled swimming pool surround
English Classrooms
Teaching Wall:
‘Inspiration Wall’:
Refurbished Artwork – Sir Thomas White Portrait
Everson Gallery
Sixth Form Common Room
