I am thrilled to announce that Bromley High School will receive significant investment in the development of our estate. Two key areas of the school are set for redevelopment, and it will be my great privilege to lead these large-scale projects for the school.
School frontage
We are proud to lead the way in girls’ education, providing top-class facilities where our girls learn without limits. It is crucial that the school’s aesthetic value mirrors the aspirations we hold for our girls. The changes to the front design of our school will reinforce the key messages of sustainability, community, inclusivity and diversity. The addition of new pedestrian walkways and increased cycle storage will encourage sustainable travel to and from school. Thoughtfully integrated planting areas and an enhanced presentation of existing, well-established trees and shrubs will create a visually appealing green frontage. This design not only promotes biodiversity and wildlife but also showcases our stunning 25-acre green site.
Our school is committed to diversity and every member of our community is meaningfully valued, respected and included. Improving access to the building will provide equal entry for everyone, from parents with prams to individuals in wheelchairs. Well-lit and attractive ramps will lead the way into our main reception. It is important that we are doing all we can to remove barriers, providing all individuals access to the same spaces and participate alongside everyone else.
The installation of electronic gates and a modification to the entry point ensures that the entrance is visible from the reception, providing improved visibility for vehicles entering and leaving the site. The area will be equipped with security lighting, CCTV, and a video intercom system. Safer crossing points and clearly marked pedestrian routes for both girls and visitors will be constructed and signposted.
Receiving the girls each morning through a warm and attractive new pupil entrance will improve their experience as they enter the school. Our girls are remarkable, and they deserve to have a space where they can meet their friends, catch up on news and give them a great start to every day. Upgrading this area will give the space identity and provide a safe venue for girls to be if they have a late finish after school whilst they wait for their parents, or friends with whom they are travelling home with.
Welcoming the girls each morning through a warm and attractive new pupil entrance will enhance their experience as they enter the school. Our remarkable girls deserve a space where they can meet friends, catch up on news, and start each day on a positive note. Upgrading this area will give the space identity and provide a safe venue for girls who may have a late finish after school, providing them a secure space while waiting for their parents or friends with whom they are traveling home.
Courtyard between the Junior and Senior Schools
Positioned centrally within the school, the courtyard acts as a conduit between the Junior and the Senior School buildings. The opportunity to improve this pivotal area of the school will enhance the school’s provision and optimise the experience of our school site for the girls in numerous ways.
Creating a functional connection between the buildings through a covered canopy will not only seamlessly integrate the two buildings but also ensure the girls are shielded from the elements. Additionally, it will create a visual corridor representing your daughter’s journey as she moves between the schools to share facilities.
The opportunities for learning outside the classroom are immeasurable. Optimising this space as a learning environment, with outdoor classrooms, opportunities for practical skills and application will enable the girls to explore the world beyond the classroom, fostering the development of soft and social skills. Outdoor learning spaces sing of adventure and play, breaking down stereotypes and promoting creativity, storytelling, and debate in an inspirational setting.
The raised beds and allotment areas for gardening will encourage imagination through planting design and immersion in nature. By building classroom gardens, the ventilation of classrooms along the Hawthorns corridor will positively change the classroom experience during hot summers. These gardens will also give the girls a sense of ownership as they personally invest in the school site. There will be an undeniably positive impact on pupil wellbeing through the outside reflection areas and active play spaces. The beautifully designed and inclusive spaces cater to all pupils, including our girls who are neurodiverse, as they enjoy the extended learning in a place of calm.
As a central space, both the Junior and Senior Schools will share this asset, fostering strong social bonds among girls across all years and contributing to the cohesive culture of an all-through school with big and little sisters.
The planned planting produces more shaded spaces for pupils to retreat to on hot summer days; we may expect increasingly hot summers (in light of climate change) so these future proof the school environment. The area is always well used in the summer with pupils and staff enjoying their alfresco lunches; this will improve the pupil experience. The social aspect of the central courtyard makes it an area for priority in terms of estates development, and being such a large area, the design creates a very clear identity of spaces for all girls to enjoy.
The planned planting creates additional shaded spaces for students to retreat to on hot summer days, a proactive measure in anticipation of increasingly warmer summers due to climate change. This forward-thinking approach ensures the school environment is future proofed. The courtyard is consistently well-utilised during the summer, providing students and staff with an enjoyable space for alfresco lunches, ultimately enhancing the overall pupil experience. Recognising the social significance of the central courtyard, it has been prioritised in terms of estate development.
Given its considerable size, the design establishes a distinct identity for various spaces, ensuring all girls have designated areas to enjoy.
Timeline
We aim to move relatively quickly on the project. We plan to enter the planning phase very soon, ideally by the end of February. If all goes according to plan, we anticipate breaking ground around the October half-term in 2024. The project is expected to take approximately 7 months to complete.
As you can imagine, the involvement in this project is huge, but I truly believe that these improvements will benefit our entire community. As we enter the planning phase, I will share CGIs and more detailed plans for the developments so that you are able to visualise these exciting new additions to our site. As we reach mobilisation, there will be regular communications regarding how the school site will operate throughout the construction process. I hope you will join me in feeling extremely positive about this investment in Bromley High School and the wide-ranging benefits it will be bring to all of us.
These projects run alongside our own school-funded estates improvements, including cricket nets, science laboratories, a wellbeing hub, Senior School quad refurbishment, Junior School sensory garden and the Neurodiversity Hub, all scheduled for delivery this year. Bromley High School continues to thrive and grow as we further secure our position as leaders in girls’ only education.
Mrs Emily Codling, Headmistress