Private School News

SIXTH FORM CENTRE AT NOTTINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL GETS GO-AHEAD

Nottingham High School has been granted planning permission for a new state-of-the-art Sixth Form centre and Senior School dining hall.

Located in the West Quad area at the heart of the school’s buildings, the three-storey centre has been designed by Nottingham architects, Maber, and will provide spacious and modern facilities for both Senior School and Sixth Form pupils.

A 500 capacity dining hall with new kitchen facilities will be situated on the ground floor, leaving the current dining hall free for Junior School pupils. The first and second floors will be given over to Sixth Formers, housing a coffee bar / brasserie and large, bright social areas. A bridge link will also connect the social area to the library.

The materials for the new facilities will include timber wall panelling, glazed balustrades and a striking white painted mezzanine which will both contrast with, and complement the existing buildings. The roof enclosing the west quad will be covered in translucent cushions. Perimeter glazing between the existing high level walls and the underside of the new roof will allow it to visually ‘float’ above the new walls.

To ensure that the new development is as environmentally friendly as possible, the proposals for the enclosed quad maximise the opportunities for natural light and natural ventilation. It will also have under floor heating which is able to run at a lower water temperature than more conventional radiators and long life construction materials will also be used.

Kevin Fear, Nottingham High School Headmaster, said: “Sixth formers at Nottingham High School achieve outstanding academic results. The expansion of Nottingham High School’s facilities with this new centre will ensure that our Sixth Form pupils can benefit from a high quality social and learning space. This will, I hope, inspire all generations of the School to aspire to lead it in the sixth form.”

Simon Middlecote of Maber said: “At the design stage we were careful to ensure the new centre respected the existing buildings by keeping it in proportion and by selecting a palette of materials that will serve to complement them. The building’s design is distinct and contemporary and will provide a vibrant new heart for the school that students can enjoy.”

The detailed design work will now be completed in order to tender for contractors as soon as possible. The centre is due for completion by September 2009.