A new sports hall is on the way
Today, preliminary investigation started toward the building of the new sports hall at the Brentwood Ursuline after the bid for the new build was accepted just two months ago. After waiting for the hall for a rumored 15 years teachers and students alike are excited that the build will hopefully begin in October of this year.
In an interview with one of the assistant head teachers of the school in Essex, Mr Foster, explained how the project still has a long way to go.
The entire project is estimated to cost in access of £2 million, however because we are a voluntary aided catholic school we are granted 90% from the DCCF. This still leaves the school with around £400,000 to raise itself. A proportion of that amount will come from a budget. The rest of the money will need to be fundraised by students and teachers. Mr Foster gave information about a website called Buy@.co.uk, this enables people in connection to buy things they normally buy on the internet via , which means an amount of money will be given to the school. So far £250 has been raised through this website but Mr Foster believes that if every student, parent and relation used this facility we could raise thousands of pounds.
As a keen environmentalist Mr Foster explained how the school would help the environment. The roof of the sports hall be a green roof, this involves plants and living organisms growing on the roof. A wall of the building will also have plants growing up the side of it. The whole building is designed to use and lose less energy.
The news for today is that the builders are in digging 15m deep to test cores to check that the ground is suitable for the build. The samples will be tested on sight and in a laboratory, which will take around 3 months till we know the results.
Miss Ball is head of the PE department and has been waiting for this sports hall for 13 years. She says it should encourage students to take part in extra sports activities and will provide excellent opportunities for all students, especially in year 10.
The new sports hall is hopefully going to be finished by autumn 2011, until then students and staff will be working hard to raise the money.
Hilary, year 10 and Ellie, year 11 – Brentwood Ursuline