Plans to transform school include hall and sports pavilion

Barton Court set to unveil details of £11m bid Exclusive

A city grammar school has revealed that a dramatic £11 million transformation of its premises could include a new sports pavilion and artificial games pitches.

As reported exclusively in this paper last week, Barton Court is planning to overhaul its layout to create a new front entrance to ease city centre congestion.

School bosses are to seek planning permission for a new hall, canteen, seven classrooms, three science labs and relocated tennis courts.

The Gazette can today reveal that further applications could follow to renovate the current 1960s hall and build a new sports pavilion.

Head teacher Kirstin Cardus said: “We’re always looking to improve the school. A limiting factor is that we haven’t technically got enough internal space.

“It’s fine for 500 students, but we’ve got 880.

“We’re hoping to implement changes that reflect the demands of the 21st century.”

Barton Court is set to unveil plans to extend current buildings at an exhibition for pupils and parents next Thursday.

Clague Architects, a Canterbury-based firm, is drawing up proposals which would see a new wing created to provide a hall, classrooms, canteen, science labs and toilets.

Karl Elliott, a partner at Clague, says the £4m plan forms the first phase of an overall £11m overhaul of the school.

He said: “Phase two will be to renovate the existing 1960s hall, at a cost of approximately £300,000.”

“Phase three will be a new sports pavilion and 3G pitches,” he added, costing the remaining £6.7m balance.

A key feature of phase one involves turning the school “back-to-front”, no longer accessing the site from Longport. Instead, a new entrance and car park near Pilgrims’ Way will be designed to ease pressure on the city’s stifled ringroad system.

Mr Elliott said: “What we are doing has its basis in logic. At the moment you come into a listed building. There is no public car park.

“The logic is to create a new entrance and reception area in the same point, where visitors can park.

“We would then have the ability to segregate that area for public events and we can ensure people don’t have to wander through the school.”

He added that the extension would be “green efficient” – possibly with a sedum-planted roof – and could echo elements of a new building designed by Clague for Gad’s Hill School near Rochester.

Ms Cardus and Mr Elliott said each phase of Barton Court’s transformation would require a separate funding bid.

They plan to submit the phase one plans to Canterbury City Council in August this year, with a hope of planning permission by November or December.

If successful, they will bid for public funding for the project.

Ms Cardus said: “We’re optimistic, otherwise we wouldn’t be applying. We’ve got to keep moving forward.

“We want the best facilities for our students – we are always looking and pushing for that.”

What do you think? Email kentishgazette@thekmgroup. co.uk or write to Gazette House, 5-8 Boorman Way, Wraik Hill, Whitstable, CT5 3SE.

Kirstin Cardus, head teacher