25th March 2010
SCHOOL REFURBISHMENT
We are delighted to announce that a major new project is about to start at Culworth Primary School. Since plans for a new school build have been shelved for the foreseeable future, the Governors of our school have been looking at ways of improving the existing school premises for current and future generations of pupils. Last week, we were given the go-ahead by the Diocese to get started on an exciting project which we hope will do just that - but first, we need to carry out some repairs…
THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE
As you may know, we have had a lot of problems with the roof of the Old School House. It is over two hundred years old and needs extensive repairs to the gable ends, chimney, bell tower and roof timbers.
We discussed this with the Diocese of Peterborough, who have overall responsibility for Church schools in this area and who allocate funds for this kind of work. They have agreed to put up the money to carry out these repairs.
RECEPTION
But the Diocese also asked us to look carefully at how the Old School House and all the spaces in the school are being used and to see if there was a way to improve the whole school over a period of time.
We passed on this brief to architects recommended by the Diocese who have had a lot of experience in improving schools like ours. They have come up with an exciting plan which has been recently approved by staff, governors, trustees and the Diocese - to relocate the Reception classroom to the current Staff Room, reconstructing the room from scratch. This will provide a purpose-built environment with new wet/art area, toilets and double doors which open out directly to the courtyard outside. This outdoor area would be largely covered and dedicated to Reception except for times when children are arriving or going home.
The plan would then be to refurbish the Old School House for staff, administration and storage on both ground and first floors. This has the added advantage of separating the Old School House from essential teaching space while the repairs are being carried out upstairs, ensuring everyone’s safety and minimising any disturbance to the pupils and staff should the repairs over-run.
We intend to carry out as much work as possible over the summer holidays to minimise any inconvenience to normal school life, prioritising the completion of the new Reception classroom so that it is ready for our new arrivals at the beginning of September.
…AND BEYOND
We hope to complete a next phase of work in 2011 which will see the completion of the staff areas, group rooms and library in the Old School House and the creation of a new main school entrance and reception area here. Further work on the school refurbishment will be discussed and phased as funds permit.
CAN I SEE THE PLANS?
We are planning to display the plans at the Parents’ Evenings on Tuesday and Wednesday next week and we hope to have enough Governors on hand to answer any of your questions. If you have any further queries, then please contact us through the school or email us at the school email address - bursar@culworth-ce.northants-ecl.gov.uk
CAN I HELP?
Yes please!
Part of the condition of any Diocese funding is that the school has to find 10% of the total to help towards the costs - so we need to raise around £25,000. The good news is that we do not have to find this money immediately (the work will proceed this summer) and fund-raising can be phased to match the spending. The Governors met recently with the CPSA to discuss the plans and it was agreed to form a joint committee to concentrate on a buildings fund-raising campaign which is separate from the usual magnificent work carried out by the CPSA for school. It is a huge challenge but an exciting prospect and we would like YOU to be involved!
If you can help in any way - ideas for fund-raising events, sponsorship, contacts with local businesses, fund-raising experience - then please get in touch with us via the School Office as soon as possible or email us at culworthschoolproject@yahoo.co.uk. We will be starting up this new committee early next term.
Tell all your friends, get your thinking caps on and let’s begin this exciting project…!
Best wishes,
Sue Lawrence Richard Lingard
Head Teacher Buildings Committee