Member Article

Architects continue to 'big up' Boldon

A Newcastle-based architectural firm is continuing to support a Tyneside school it designed a year ago by helping realise its ambitious plans for an in-house community theatre. Boldon’s PFI School, which was the launch pad for the Northern arm of the British Council for School Environments (BCSE) at the beginning of the year, was designed by Waring and Netts in Autumn 2003 and was fully operational by November 2006. Waring and Netts was keen to sponsor the school’s first performing arts festival, which will take place over the coming months before culminating in performances from 5–7 July and a series of summer school workshops during the school holidays.

Waring and Netts’ education director Rob Charlton said: “It is extremely rewarding to continue a relationship with a school that it is actually lived in and see it function so well. Our work is always centred around people rather than the buildings themselves so it is a pleasure to see the place actually living and breathing and pupils enjoying their new environment.”

As part of the government’s aim to rebuild or renew every secondary school in England over a 10-15 year period, the original site that housed Boldon School pupils since the 1930s has been replaced by a new building which houses, as well as a theatre, a sports hall and a 25m swimming pool – both of which can also be accessed by the local community.

Headteacher Colin Whitfield said: “The new school has made a tremendous difference to staff and pupils alike. We can see the children enjoying the extra meeting spaces and they certainly have more respect for their new surroundings. “As Waring and Netts also worked closely with our facilities manager, the school was designed with long term community usage in mind. “We are hoping to attract theatre-goers from all over the region as the theatre establishes its reputation, and this can only benefit the future sustainability of the school.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .