The core of the main building is based on the old boys’ grammer school, which was opened in 1956. In 1992/93 a building programme of c £2million changed the school into a genuinely new school. A new wing provided purpose-built accommodation for Music and Art. It also contained a new Sixth Form Centre, with study and social areas and a dining room. Conversion of the older building produced nine brand new Science laboratories, a computer laboratory, extensive new Technology facilities and a specialist Drama Studio.
The main building houses the Science laboratories and two computer rooms and classrooms for Mathematics. On the ground floor the well-stocked Open Learning Centre is the central focal point. A new English suite was opened in September 2000. It comprises 7 classrooms and a studio which can be used for a variety of purposes including drama, dance and presentations. The Technology Wing comprises two Design and Technology workshops, two Food Technology/Textile rooms, an electronics room and a design studio. The area also has a specialist room for ceramics/sculpture. There is a darkroom for advanced photography. The school has invested heavily in computer technology over the past few years reflecting the high priority given to ICT in the school. There are 3 general purpose computer suites which are in addition to specialist computer facilities within Technology, Languages, Maths, Science and English. Increasing use is made of mobile computing technology and interactive whiteboards to enhance teaching and learning. The sixth form have their own Independent Learning Centre complete with state of the art PCs.
The Administration Block houses most of the offices and it also contains specialist classrooms for History and Modern Languages (French, German and Spanish). An additional suite of Humanities rooms has been provided alongside the administration block.
The West Wing contains the Music department, with practice rooms and two large Art rooms for fine art and graphics. The Sixth Form Centre has two specialised post 16 resources/study rooms with computer workstations and a pleasant social area. There is also the Daylong Diner, an up-to-date dining room, which is open before school and at break, as well as at lunchtime. The Hall is used in the evenings for public meetings, parent-teacher consultations, PTA events and for performances of music and drama. Adjacent to the hall, a specialist drama and dance studio has been created.
About 8.5 hectares of playing fields provide space for outdoor games with rugby, soccer and hockey pitches and an athletics track. There is also an all-weather cricket wicket. In Autumn 2003 a new £1million sports hall complete with changing facilities opened. This provides for 4 badminton courts; cricket nets; indoor hockey; 5-a-side football; volleyball and a climbing wall. This fantastic facility is complemented by our existing large gymnasium with its own changing rooms.
A new reception area and social area have recently been completed as part of a continuing programme of improvement to the accommodation.