Work has begun to transform the secondary school building into a more mature learning space, appropriate for those studying A-levels.
Murals are being painted around the school.
Ryan Dawe has been commissioned for the project, and has been joined by several volunteers, including students and a team of firefighters.
‘We’re painting murals on the huts relating to the subjects that will be taught in them. There’s drama, sports, psychology and sociology,’ he said.
‘We had a few rough ideas and once we had some colour on there, everything flows.
‘For the first two days because of the rain it started to drip, and that slowed us down, but now the weather is perfect.’
The addition of the murals is just part of the work being done at La Mare.
Before the school term ended, work was already under way to move equipment and furniture.
‘We got things in the right place and there was a lot of emptying out of areas to enable contractors to come in,’ said head of education operations Sophie Roughsedge.
‘At the La Mare site, there is specific curriculum preparation for areas like photography and science that have bespoke requirements. A huge amount of work is going on in the old gym and school hall and what was the staff room is being turned into a really modern study area and refectory for the students when they come back in September.’
At Les Varendes, a communication, interaction and autism base is being developed within existing rooms on the site.
The whole area is being redesigned for inclusion to support vulnerable students and children with additional learning needs.
A large amount of work done is being done in the science area to enlarge some of the classroom spaces so they can take a normal class size.
The staff room has been moved, and the Youth Commission will have a youth club based out of the site.
In the current Sixth Form Centre, the music centre will be moving into part of the building and an area will be repurposed into practice rooms.
The sexual health advice and relationships educators will be based there too.
‘Our priority is absolutely getting the 11-to-16 school and the Sixth Form Centre ready for September,’ said Mrs Roughsedge.
‘That’s where all of our focus and energy is going because we want it to be ready and really welcoming for students.’
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