Slough and Eton Sixth Form
Requirement
For several years after a fire in the early seventies destroyed most of the building stock, the majority of Slough and Eton College’s buildings were made up of temporary structures. The school has since been expanding with both temporary and permanent buildings, which now include a new permanent 6th Form block provided by Wernick Buildings.
For this particular project, the school needed accommodation that could keep up with the rise in pupil numbers they were experiencing. As Business Manager for the School, Chris Fisher, commented “The school is expanding rapidly and our 6th form has gone from 60 pupils to 250. These numbers meant we needed purpose-built accommodation for the 6th Form students.” The speed offered by modular building methods made it an obvious solution.
Cost also plays an important role in deciding how to accommodate pupils, especially for a school that is perpetually expanding. After originally providing a design solution and feasibility costs Wernick Buildings also offered the most competitive tender for the project. Aside from the building, the infrastructure and external works were also provided.
The new two storey block was completed ahead of schedule, and the resulting building is incredibly flexible. A large hall that serves as a restaurant has been fitted with lighting and fold out seating suitable for music or drama productions. Folding partitions in classrooms mean that they can change to accommodate various class sizes, from small study groups to large IT classes. This flexibility will also be useful outside of school hours as Slough and Eton offers use of the facilities to the local community, giving the school another source of income.
The multifunctional building is the second Wernick have provided the school, the first being a two storey block incorporating office, staff room and teaching spaces. With more and more pupils heading to Slough and Eton, it is unlikely to be the last time the school needs quality accommodation that can be provided quickly.
The school is expanding rapidly and our 6th form has gone from 60 pupils to 250. These numbers meant we needed purpose-built accommodation for the 6th Form students.
