We are very lucky to be housed in a sustantial building that was constructed in the 1950s, when classroom sizes were more generous and designs incorporated high ceilings and tall windows. Today, we enjoy bright airy learning spaces and a building that is easy to maintain.
Two classrooms are housed in a 'terrapin style' building that is independently heated and has views over the school playing field.
Over the course of last summer break and next, the school is being totally re-wired and having new suspended ceilings. Two-thirds of the building has been done already and there is an appreciable difference in the acoustics, quality of light and warmth.
All key areas of the building have been double glazed and new central heating was installed in the summers of 2007 & 2008. The whole school is wireless networked so our trolley of laptops can be used in any area, but we also have a large ICT suite - up to 35 pupils can be seated at individual PCs. There is also a non-fiction and reference library, with its own small cluster of networked PCs.
Over the last three years we have considered access arrangements. There is now level access or there are gradual slopes up to all principal doors, so that no pupil, member of staff or visitor has difficulty entering the building. By careful distribution of classes, each year group has two teaching spaces on the ground floor for the same reason.
In June 2011, the reception area was remodelled to make front of house more accessible and effective. At the same time, further security measures were installed, so that there is controlled access to the building by way of visitors being 'buzzed in'.
We have our own spacious school kitchen, where dinners are cooked each day. A pupil cookery area has been created within the hall and will be opening after Easter.
A separate structure, with a translucent roof provided by the PTA, houses our heated shallow-water swimming pool, with associated changing rooms and showers. All classes have swimming lessons during the summer term, as every teacher is a trained shallow-water instructor.