Appeal

    The David Holbache Fund

    In order to enable the School to embark on some further exciting major developments, The David Holbache Fund has been established. The short term aim is to raise £600,000 by 2007 for use on current and imminent capital projects. Looking beyond 2007 there are other capital projects that we would like to see come to fruition. Our goal is to ensure that current and future pupils and parents will reap the benefits of this work. Thus, the School can move forward into its next century by offering its students the very best they deserve in buildings, facilities and opportunities.

    The Governors have, therefore, determined to move ahead with a three phased development plan which will enable the School to offer the very best to current and future pupils. The development will provide the school with a new Sixth Form boys’ boarding house, a teaching block and sports hall. The first part of this development has been completed and our new Sixth Form boys’ boarding house is now open.

    Located on the hill below the Peter Humphreys Centre and the Dining Hall, the Teaching Block will be visible from most of the school grounds. The building, which has been designed by a national architectural design practice, will provide a focal point for our high quality teaching and will deliver 21st century facilities with significant use of leading edge technology. The design of the building will reflect our main aim: to produce cost effective accommodation of the highest standard in order to enhance the quality of the school’s teaching and learning environment.

    Plans for the block, which will house physics, chemistry and biology laboratories, art rooms with an exhibition area, an IT suite and teaching rooms for maths, were drawn up last autumn and submitted for planning permission. Planning consent has now been secured and work on the construction can go ahead. The building will be a fantastic addition to the School and will provide superb facilities for generations of pupils to come.

    This phase of development will be completed with the addition of a sports hall to be located on land next to the music department, currently occupied by ‘temporary classrooms which will become redundant as soon as the new teaching block is constructed. The hall will provide a range of new facilities for indoor hockey, cricket, netball, football, tennis, badminton and basketball, as well as a climbing wall. In furtherance of our desire to help the local community the School will also be able to offer the use of these facilities to outside bodies.