This Autumn has seen several major new facilities arrive at King Edward’s, beginning with the newly extended and refurbished Sixth Form Centre which opened at the start of term.
The new Sixth Form Centre at KES Bath
Working with local architects, Mitchell Eley Gould, KES Sixth Formers and staff were instrumental in developing plans for the new space, with suggestions being put forward for a redesigned work environment and social space. Pupils were keen that the new centre echoed the environments typically found at universities and was further able to support different work styles and study needs.
As a result, the former large common room style space has been zoned into different areas. An ‘inhabited’ wall now runs through the middle of the room, defining the separation between social and study spaces and provides recessed alcoves for small groups to use, seating for individuals, built-in lockers and glazed doors to the adjacent quiet room.
The café area and surrounding spaces all provide group casual work and social spaces, and are surrounded by furnished areas that provide an identity to each space, with lighting and suspended acoustic panels reflecting the change of character of each area.
The new Sixth Form Centre has met with unanimous praise, with pupils appreciating both the contemporary redesign and vibrant atmosphere that the refurbishment has achieved.
The new Modern Foreign Languages Centres at KES Bath
Following hard on the heels of the new Sixth Form Centre, a new, two-storey Modern Foreign Languages Centre has just opened its doors.
The new £2m MFL facility, sitting adjacent to the Sixth Form Centre, allows a more flexible approach to teaching, particularly when helping pupils to develop their listening and speaking skills, and incorporates seven new classrooms, including language labs and smaller teaching spaces, as well as a new locker area and office space. New classroom equipment and furniture completes the project.
The study of languages at KES continues to flourish, with over a third of GCSE pupils typically studying more than one language, including classical languages, and between a fifth and one quarter of pupils choosing to study languages at A Level.
The refurbished chemistry lab
In addition, over recent months, the school has benefitted from the refit of two chemistry laboratories to the school with some first-class facilities and underpin the ambitious growth plans in science teaching and resources.
The new all weather pitch at KES Pre-Prep and Nursery
A new all-weather pitch has also been opened at the Pre-Prep, replacing the grassed area at the bottom of the grounds. This provides the school’s youngest children with a year-round, weatherproof space suitable for both PE lessons and play.