Education chiefs today named the preferred bidder for a £26 million project to rebuild a Shropshire school in time for the 2012 Olympics.The submission by Kier Group to the county council will lead to a transformation of teaching and learning facilities at William Brookes School, Much Wenlock. The school is sited on the original home of the Wenlock Olympian Games, a forerunner of the modern Olympics.
Kier’s winning design is said to reflect the key elements of the Much Wenlock countryside, which complements the school’s location.
The new school building will have a 25 metres swimming pool, sports hall, fitness suite and gymnasium, as well as grass and all weather sports and athletic facilities.
Cultural activities have not been overlooked, with a replacement for the Edge Arts Centre, dance and drama studios, and a new lecture theatre which will double for use as a small cinema.
Top quality classrooms will be provided along with workshops and laboratories.
The school will be organised into four learning zones, each of which will also be a base for a school House, and a school “heart” which will contain dining and administration accommodation.
Public exhibitions of the design will be held on September 13 in the two towns served by the school.
The Much Wenlock exhibition will be held in the Priory Hall from 9.30am to 1pm and the Broseley display will be staged in the Birch Meadow Centre from 1.30 pm to 5.30pm.
Councillor Ann Hartley, county council cabinet member for children’s services, said: “I’m really thrilled by the design and by the choice of contractor.
“Kier are already doing a superb job at Monkmoor Campus, Shrewsbury, and I will expect them to do even better at William Brookes.”
Headteacher Penny Cooper added: “The design for the new school is imaginative and will take the school further along the path from excellent to outstanding.
“I am looking forward very much to seeing it take shape over the next two years.”
Of the total cost of £21million will be met from the Government’s Building Schools for the Future fund.
By Dave Morris
3 Comments
complementing wenlocks countryside, so it will be stone with a grass roof then??? Oh wait no it will look like a prison and be made of concrete, so hows that fitting in with our countryside
Great news for the town.
Jonty= how do you criticise a design before seeing it, unless you are feeling blinkered.
I have seen the design and i think it does compliment the countryside, it isnt a concrete block at all but made from various materials including Wenlock Stone, a lovely design that we are very excited about.