Two pupils go back to school after 70 years to open Bristol’s newest secondary school
11 July 2008
Two people in their 80s will go back to school today to help open Bristol’s newest secondary school, Bristol Metropolitan College.
Alf Shepler (88) and Gwen Price (86) lived only a few doors apart when they were young. They went to separate schools that later merged with others to form Whitefield Fishponds Community School, which ‘Bristol Met’ replaces.
Mr Shepler, who now lives near Thornbury, and Mrs Price, from Kingswood, will join the new school’s two youngest students in unveiling a plaque to mark the opening. “I am proud to be taking part in the opening of such a wonderful new school,” said Mrs Price.
Students will perform dance, music and poetry to celebrate the special day. Also taking part will be celebrated poet Rommi Smith, a former student at the school who is currently writer-in-residence at the Houses of Parliament.
Theresa Thorne, Headteacher of Bristol Met, said: “We are thrilled to be formally opening our fantastic new school. It has so much to offer not just our students but the local community as well, and we hope that anybody interested in seeing the new building will come to our open morning on Saturday (12 July).”
Councillor Peter Hammond, Deputy Leader of Bristol City Council and Cabinet Member for Cohesion and Raising Attainment, said: "Bristol Metropolitan College offers students a learning environment that is second to none. By 2013, we will be the one of the first councils in the country to rebuild or significantly refurbish every secondary school in the area, giving children the important message that we are investing in their education and their future. This is a real example of the work we are doing to make a difference to young people in our city, helping them reach their full potential."
John Burgess, General Manager of the LEP, added: “Bristol Met provides a first-class learning environment that is already proving highly popular with students, staff and parents. It’s somewhere that Bristol can be really proud of.”
Tim Byles, Chief Executive of Partnerships for Schools, said: “The opening of Bristol Metropolitan College is yet more good news for young people, teachers and the local community in Bristol, giving them a fresh start, new opportunities and state-of-the-art facilities.”
The new school has space for 1,080 students and was completed on time and on budget. It’s the second new secondary to be completed by Bristol LEP, formed by the City Council, Partnerships for Schools (via Building Schools for the Future Investments) and Skanska, which is responsible for its design, construction and operation.
Bristol Brunel Academy opened last September, and two more schools are nearing completion – Brislington Enterprise College and the Bridge Learning Campus in Hartcliffe.
Bristol Met is organised in a series of 'learning clusters' for different subject areas. The central language cluster reflects the school's status as a specialist language college, with two further learning clusters linked by an internal street. This provides the main focus of activity, creating a space that is bright and spacious.
Intended as far more than a simple building project, the design facilitates the latest innovative learning and teaching tools such as N-able, an online managed learning environment from ICT specialists Northgate Education. This gives students their own personalised learning area and the support and help they need to make the most of their individual learning plan. It also provides new opportunities for learning outside the classroom.
Built to high environmental standards, the school has a biomass heating system that burns carbon-neutral wood chips to heat the building and provide hot water. It uses natural ventilation, with windows drawing in fresh air that rises through the building and leaves via large cowls on the roof. Rainwater is recycled for use in WCs, and the building makes maximum use of natural lighting to reduce electricity use and resulting CO2 emissions.
Notes to editors
- Bristol Local Education Partnership was the first in the country created under Building Schools for the Future. BSF is the largest single schools capital investment programme for over 50 years. BSF will provide world-class teaching and learning environments for all pupils, teachers and communities in England.
- Bristol LEP (www.bristollep.co.uk) is a 10-year partnership between Bristol City Council, Partnerships for Schools – the delivery body for BSF – and Skanska, one of the world's leading construction groups.
- As well as completing Bristol Brunel Academy and Bristol Metropolitan College, Bristol LEP is also developing a new building for Brislington Enterprise College, opening in September 2008, and the Bridge Learning Campus, which will replace Hartcliffe Engineering Community College and Teyfant Community School when it opens in January 2009.
- Total construction value of the four schools is approximately £120 million and the operating contract is for 25 years.
Designed by award-winning Wilkinson Eyre Architects, the schools represent the best in innovative environments for learning. International multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy, Buro Happold, has provided building services engineering, and Grant Associates were landscape architects. The managed ICT service is provided by Northgate Information Solutions. - The LEP is working with the City Council on other projects that will provide new and improved schools and Children's Centres across the city over the coming years.
Contacts
Rob Richley
Bristol LEP (Local Education Partnership)
07774 891992
Katharine de Lisle / Julia Walton
Corporate Communications
Bristol City Council
0117 922 2732
