BUILDING AN AMBITIOUS FUTURE FOR AN AMBITIOUS COMMUNITY
INSPIRING, INNOVATIVE FACILITIES OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY CAN ENJOY
ST DUNSTAN’S COLLEGE I OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE
OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE...
We believe that a truly outstanding education must be grounded in a belief that communities matter. Ambitious communities deserve ambitious facilities, and consequently we are embarking on the most significant redevelopment of our St Dunstan’s sites, since our foundation in Catford, in 1888.
Much has already been accomplished over the past few years, including:
• Centre for Inclusion and Enrichment – Extensive modifications to our historic library have created a contemporary learning support facility, including dedicated collaborative and silent study spaces, as well as facilities for academic enrichment and specialist support.
• State-of-the-art classrooms – In 2018 we began a rolling programme of classroom refurbishments, modernising these essential spaces with innovative technology, furniture and fittings, whilst retaining the beauty of their 130-year-heritage.
• Great Hall renovation – The Great Hall of St Dunstan’s is the physical and symbolic heart of the College. It has had extensive renovation in recent years including a new organ, sound and lighting system.
• Wellness Centre – In 2018, St Dunstan’s developed a unique, dedicated facility known as The Pavilion, to serve as a hub for pupil mental and physical health services. The Pavilion is home to first aid and medical
support, counselling and psychotherapy, peer mentoring, chaplaincy and spaces for pupils to be still and reflect. The Pavilion is ideally located amidst the relative tranquillity of our fields and benefits from open, light spaces and beautiful views.
• Pupil HUB – We believe in the importance of social spaces for children. The first of what we hope will be many pupil hubs can be found immediately outside the Great Hall. It is a space for pupils to sit and socialise with one another, as well as to work and collaborate over academic pursuits. The huge video-wall, immediately alongside it, is a mechanism for pupils to review latest community news, notices and social media threads.
• Archives – A reinvigoration of our archives has led to the development of a new archives office, archival ‘walk through’ timeline, on our ground floor corridor, and alumni-focused reception area.
• Jubilee Ground – In addition to the facilities contained on our Stanstead Road site, the College also now owns the Jubilee Ground – 25 acres of playing fields in the centre of Catford, a 5 minute walk from the College. Pupils have access to natural cricket, football and rugby pitches as well as a number of MUGAs (Multi Use Games Areas), providing opportunities to play hockey, netball, football and rugby under floodlights and on artificial surfaces. A new £1.5 million MUGA was completed in summer 2018 and state-of-art netball courts were completed in 2019.
ST DUNSTAN’S COLLEGE I OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE
All of this work has been undertaken by using money from our existing surpluses and reserves. But we are by no means finished! In January 2020, following a successful planning application, we began our ambitious development plan with contractors, Willmott Dixon.
PROJECTS: FACILITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN
CURRENT JUNIOR SCHOOL, STEM BLOCK AND SIXTH FORM CENTRE
Cost: £25 Million
Source of Financing: Borrowing and Reserves
PROJECT 1 THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE (PAC)
Cost: £1 Million
Source of Financing: Fundraising
PROJECT 2 THE ‘PLAZA’
Cost: £1 Million
Source of Financing: Fundraising
PROJECT 3 THE SPORT & LEISURE CENTRE
Cost: £2 Million
Source of Financing: Fundraising
ST DUNSTAN’S COLLEGE I OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE
CURRENT PROJECT
JUNIOR SCHOOL
The Junior School is currently divided; taught in separate locations, many of our pupils are currently housed in prefabricated, mobile classrooms.
Our new, creative design will provide state-of-the-art, stimulating learning environments, as well as dedicated specialist spaces for art, music and performances. In addition, a specific focus on outdoor learning spaces is featured on all three floors.
Redesigned Junior School playing fields and two Multi-Use Games Areas (MUGA) will ensure pupils have unrestricted access to age-appropriate, exceptional sporting facilities.
STEM BLOCK
With a focus on collaboration across the four fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, this STEM Block will transform these specialist subjects, currently dispersed across the College.
Making the most of the latest technology and design available, this STEM Block will include a range of cutting-edge facilities, building on our historical roots in inspiring technical creativity and innovation.
SIXTH FORM CENTRE
Our Sixth Form Centre will be positioned within the heart and main central atrium of the STEM Block. The design of this area is modelled on university-style learning, including large, independent study spaces, social areas and a Sixth Form café, which includes outside seating.
ST DUNSTAN’S COLLEGE I OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE
PROJECT 1
THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE (PAC)
With our strong reputation for excellence in the performing arts, our vacated spaces provide a real opportunity to found a new home for our creative departments. Capitalising on the spacious rooms and high ceilings of the former design and technology department, we plan to create St Dunstan’s first theatre, a double height performance space with retractable seating for an audience of 150. There will be space alongside and above it to support 12 practice rooms, studios, dedicated IT facilities, and an open space for recitals and concerts.
PROJECT 2
THE ‘PLAZA’
With the removal of our 1960s and 70s Prep block, physics laboratories and music department, we have the opportunity to create an open air and multi-use facility in the very heart of our school campus. We envisage a formal parade square to support the work of our Combined Cadet Force doubling up as space for outdoor theatre, recreation and open air concerts.
PROJECT 3
THE SPORT & LEISURE CENTRE
Enhancing the existing footprint of our Sport and Leisure Centre will enable us to offer exceptional sporting facilities for our pupils, as well as enhance our community offering. The new Sport and Leisure Centre will not only incorporate the relocated Fives Courts, but also a café overlooking the swimming pool and will significantly enlarge the space available for sporting and leisure opportunity across a range of areas.
St Dunstan’s Sport and Leisure Centre
NEW DEVELOPMENTS
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
We would love to deliver on Projects 1-3 at the same time as the current work. It is most cost effective for us to do so with contractors already on site and it will minimise the disruption to our pupils. We are fortunate to be able to undertake so much without the need for further fundraising but we are £4 million short of achieving this plan in its entirety.
We are £4 million short of achieving this plan in its entirety. If you feel able to make a donation of any amount to assist us with our plans, we would love to hear from you as every contribution is meaningful, regardless of the amount.
Please do look at our Fundraising Brochure, St Dunstan’s 2021 or contact our Development office:
Isabelle Blake-James Director of Development
St Dunstan’s Development Office Email: development@sdmail.org.uk Tel: 020 8516 7308.
St Dunstan’s Educational Foundation Charity number 312747.
Equally, if you would like to visit the College in person and learn more of our plans for the future, please do not hesitate to book an appointment to do so.