Project Copernicus

"Building the future, and keeping the past alive, are one and the same thing "

Well Built - 30 Year Plan Hideo Kojima

In late 2021 the Governors undertook a review of the preferred location for the School, almost 150 years after their predecessors had undertaken a similar exercise that saw the School move from its town centre location to the current site on London Road. You will already know from the Headmaster’s communications that the top-level outcome was that the School would remain on its current 55 acre site on London Road Immediately after that decision was taken, the Governors took the opportunity to consider ways that the site should develop in order to sustain the margin of excellence that has distinguished a Wellingborough education for 425 years.

Figure 1 The ' new ' Wellingborough School 1881

The principal consideration was the physical manifestations to support future ways of teaching and learning, but other factors included better optimising the ‘town / ‘field’ balance, improving vehicular access, allowing the School to better play its part as a member of the community, and achieving a net zero carbon sustainable footprint.

The result of this work is a proposal that preserves and enhances the best of Wellingborough School whilst also adopting a strategic approach to developing the facilities.

Under Copernicus, that which works will be retained and refurbished – for example, much of the 1881 building stock to the north of the site (shown in white at Figure 2). Other buildings that do not lend themselves to modernisation or adaptation (many of which were erected as a ‘temporary measure’ many decades ago) are cleared and replaced with facilities that are fit for the future

Figure 2 Wellingborough School under Project Copernicus

Figure 3 Wellingborough School current site