A special Topping Out ceremony took place today at the site of Kingswood Prep School’s new development. Present and past pupils attended the ceremonial event, which was led by Simon Morris, Principal of the Kingswood Foundation, and Tim Westbrook, Chair of the Board of Governors, who both hammered nails into the roof of the new development. Also in attendance were members of the Kingswood community, including Governors, stakeholders and council representatives.
The project has progressed swiftly since construction began in August, and includes new classrooms and learning spaces for current pupils in the Prep School, plus a new all-year-round Nursery named ‘The Garden at Kingswood’. The Garden at Kingswood will welcome children as young as nine months and will provide what the school describes as ‘an outstanding environment for early years education’.
The new Nursery will make the most of Kingswood’s extensive grounds with an emphasis on exploration and enquiry in the school’s beautiful outdoor spaces. This aspirational development also provides new facilities for pupils already at Kingswood Prep School. There will be an inspiring space for art, design and innovation, music and drama rooms which enable pupils to explore their natural creativity, and a new multi-functional hall that will allow Kingswood Prep School pupils to share their whole-school celebrations with the wider community.
Simon Morris, Principal of the Kingswood Foundation, said, “I am delighted that this wonderful new development has progressed so well and will be open for the new school year in September. The first-rate facilities will, I have no doubt, inspire the children to ever higher achievements in their learning.”
Andy Blake, Project Manager for Midas Construction, added, “It is great for all involved to see the new buildings taking shape so quickly and the way in which they will fit so well into the existing school setting. The Considerate Construction rating of ‘Exceptional’ across all five criteria which we have recently received for the Kingswood project is the highest we’ve ever received on a site and reflects the excellent working relationship we have with the School and Midas’s wider commitment to industry-leading customer service and close co-operation with the communities we are working in.”