School Development
St Bede’s Prep is an ever-evolving school and has continuously undergone metamorphoses since being founded in 1895. Some recent developments include;
Science Department
This was completed in 2005 and is composed of three state-of-the-art science laboratories and a science preparation room. These have since become a hive of activity and are also home to many strange creatures, including fish, stick insects, snakes, turtles and tarantulas. The Department is used by the whole School including the Pre-Prep and there are Science Clubs and a Science Master Class session every week. All the rooms are fitted with interactive teaching resources and have up to 20 internet points which the children can access. This has vastly helped the teaching and learning of the sciences at the School.
Integrated Studies Department
Two large new rooms have been constructed for the Integrated Studies Department which combines the teaching of Geography and History. The rooms have a sound-proof partition and can be joined together for large group work or for talks and presentations. The rooms are fitted with interactive teaching resources and the department benefits from magnificent views across the English Channel – inspiration indeed for any budding geographer or historian!
New Dance Studio
A great deal of dance happens at St Bede’s Prep. Many Prep School children attend the LEGAT Dance School, which is based in an extensive dance suite at the Senior School. In addition, there are dance lessons at the Prep School and these happen in the fabulous new dance studio. The mirrored studio was completed in 2005 and is fitted with a new floor and ballet bars as well as an integrated sound system. The facility is used a great deal for dance lessons and also for music lessons and Pre-Prep assemblies.
School Libraries
The new Pre-Prep library opened in November 2005 with wonderfully carved bookshelves displaying a large collection of new books. Recently, the main School library had a new big screen television fitted with surround sound. This library is also used as a teaching space and the new resources are used to encourage reading and to aid story telling. It is also internet linked and several stations are available, helping children with their research and project work.
ICT Suite
The ICT department has always been well resourced at St Bede’s Prep with 60 stations in the three rooms and full interactive teaching resources in the two larger rooms. A full refurbishment of the fixtures and fitting In the three rooms was carried out in autumn 2007 and this making them an even more pleasant environment for the pupils to work in.
Design and Technology Rooms
The DT room underwent a transformation in 2007 and has been split into wet and dry areas. This makes this very popular area of the school better able to cope with the large numbers of clubs and activities that go on there.
Future Developments
In addition to these recent works a major new development project is currently being planned. This includes the building of a fantastic new dining room and kitchen facility. This building will be a two-storey edifice with patio doors opening out onto the School field, which would be ideal for matches and summer activities. The upper floor will be the new home for state-of-the-art classrooms. The hall will also be used as a venue for musical concerts and drama productions. The area between the main building and the new building will be developed and become a covered waiting and play area.
Holywell Mount, the big house currently used for Year 8 classrooms, is to be refurbished and will become the new home of the St Bede’s Pre-Prep and Nursery. This is a very exciting proposal and will include outdoor classrooms and play areas creating a wonderful self-contained home for the children within the grounds of the School.
Security is a major concern for any school and a new electronic wireless security system, due to be introduced in 2008, will enable our children to freely access all buildings whilst preventing access by any unauthorised persons.
