facilities
King Edward’s School opens new sports centre
Pupils are benefiting from the construction by shadowing design teams
School of Innovation to ‘transform’ UK education
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elvinside Academy and Balfour Beatty have joined forces to build Scotland’s School of Innovation – the country’s first sustainable building designed and constructed using circular and eco-design principles. Its construction will minimise waste and capitalise on resources. The £2.5m contract will see the new school built on Kelvinside Academy’s Glasgow West End campus. The school will focus on real-world challenges and collaborative problem-solving, and is an open space for scientists, academics, entrepreneurs and roboticists. Kelvinside Academy pupils are already benefiting from the partnership, with S4 and S5 pupil teams shadowing
Balfour Beatty’s construction and design teams, learning from industry experts, attending meetings and providing input. A topping-out ceremony recently celebrated the achievement of the building reaching its maximum height. David Miller, director of Scotland’s School of Innovation, said: “This is a must for Scotland if it is to continue to punch above its weight in the global economy during these challenging times. We truly believe we can and will transform education in the United Kingdom. We live in a rapidly changing world and schools need to provide an education which prepares young people to look at things differently. “Glasgow is the ideal place
for the UK’s first innovation school. The city has a booming tech sector, is home to worldclass universities and some of the world’s most creative and talented engineers, architects and designers. Our partnership with Balfour Beatty demonstrates the company’s desire to address a nationwide skills gap. Although central to pupils attending Kelvinside Academy, we intend for the Innovation School to have an impact throughout Scotland and beyond.” Scotland’s School of Innovation will open in August. In the coming months, Kelvinside Academy will unveil a number of partnerships with key figures and bodies in industry and academia.
New developments for Leweston School Leweston School has revealed two development projects that will be in place by September 2019. A music school will be opening in the Georgian Manor House, with classrooms, individual teaching rooms, GCSE and A-level work space, a recording studio and large ensemble room. The current prep school hall will be upgraded to a new building, providing four classrooms and communal space. A new decked area will provide an alternative performance 16 | ie-today.co.uk | @ie_today
A former pupil at King Edward’s School has made a substantial donation towards its new sports centre, which is now open. Andrew Brode, executive chairman of RWS Holdings, has continued to support the school after leaving, and this is the second major donation he has made to the school’s facilities. The first part funded a modern languages and science centre. The £5m sports centre includes a new sports hall, cardiovascular fitness room, multipurpose space, classroom and changing rooms. Keith Phillips, acting chief master of King Edward’s School, said: “We are very grateful to Andrew Brode for his great generosity and continued support of the school. The new developments that he has so generously supported have had a huge impact on life at King Edward’s, both in and out of the classroom. “His first major gift has provided outstanding facilities for science and modern languages, and transformed the way these subjects are taught at the school. “His second gift has created superb facilities for the study and practice of sport, the benefits of which are already being enjoyed by our pupils and staff, and the community groups who use our facilities.” The sports centre is part of a £25m building programme the school started in 2010.
The new prep hall
space for summer events. Kate Reynolds, head, said: “Performance, be it music, drama or public speaking, is central to life at Leweston and
these projects will provide first-class facilities for our pupils to showcase their talents, as well as an important hub for the school community.”
Andrew Brode Sports Centre