Member Article

Top Sheffield school secures £2.3m finance package for redevelopment

Birkdale School, one of Sheffield’s leading independent schools, has secured a £2.3m finance package from HSBC to support the extension and redevelopment of Belmayne House, which will be the new home for its youngest pupils.

Work on the property, based on Clarkehouse Road, commenced in September and is due to be complete by June 2014, ready for the 2014/15 academic year.

The building will house up to 120 Pre-Prep (infant) boys aged between four and seven, and the property will include six class rooms and specialist facilities, including its own library, outdoor classroom, art room, music and drama room, children’s kitchen, music practice room and sick bay.

The new property will give the school’s Pre-Prep children much improved facilities and will also create more space for pupils at the Clarke Drive-based Prep School, where the four to seven year olds are currently taught.

Finance for the project has been provided by HSBC’s South Yorkshire Commercial team in a deal led by senior commercial manager Chris Alsop.

Birkdale School was founded in 1904 and today the independent day school teaches around 800 pupils between the ages of four and 18. The school has a policy of continuous investment in improving services and facilities, with other recent upgrades including a new sports pavilion.

Mick Knowles, HSBC South Yorkshire Area commercial director, said: “Birkdale School prides itself on helping its pupils achieve academic excellence in an environment that also focuses on excellent behaviour.

“HSBC is pleased to support this new facility, which will result in a superb school for both pupils and teachers.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mark Lane .