The Building of St Edward's School: A Chronology (1870 - 2020)

P AGE N O : 108 Laboratory S7 refurbished, improvements made to Macnamara’s and Apsley (Day-Rooms split in two) and Housemaster’s accommodation in Tilly’s House significantly improved (Governors’ Meeting, November 1994) Despite acquiring a great deal of local real estate over the years, the housing of staff is still a problem and expected to get worse (Governors’ Meeting, February 1995). 1995 - Original Vestry door reinstated in new refurbishment of the Chapel (Autumn 1994 Chronicle). It had been found abandoned in the School fields where it had served as a temporary bridge across a ditch for many years The cost of the new proposed all-weather field and lighting will be in the region of £340,000 (£914,600 today) (Governors’ Meeting, March 1995) The needs of Information Technology will mean a ‘rolling programme based on two platforms’. The first would be an IT Teaching Laboratory costing between £60,000 - £70,000 (£161,400 - £188,300 today) which would provide departments with training and support using upgraded Macintosh Computers or new PCs with Windows. The second step would be an electronic mail facility to improve communications between Departments and Houses - this step would require between £175,000 to £200,000 (£470,750 - £538,000 today) spread over three or four years (General Purposes, November 1995). 1996 - Decision taken to establish two Girls’ Boarding Houses to include the School’s first intake of Lower School girls in 1997. Macnamara’s will change from a boys’ to girls’ boarding house in September 1998 to help accommodate this (Autumn 1996 Chronicle) Computer Centre undertakes a major conversion during the summer. Room 16 now becomes a Teaching Laboratory - the whole top floor, that began life in 1963 as a Library, is now devoted to Information Technology at a cost of £95,000 (£247,000 today) First mention of a possible ‘progressive development’ of an area which presently included the C.C.F. Offices, bungalows, open air pool, Water Garden and replacement of the existing Douglas Bader Sports Centre’. The new development would be a large complex providing indoor tennis courts, three squash courts and a 25 metre swimming pool (Governors’ Meeting, March 1996) School resolves to accept a 13 year old entry of girls from 1997 (Governors’ Meeting, March 1996) In order to accommodate the acceptance of younger girls into the School, outline plans for housing both the pupils and new staff are proposed to Governors. Currently the School’s facilities include 54/56 Oakthorpe Road, cramped but acceptable for the temporary housing for two married teachers - costs for alterations £15,000 (£39,000 today); feasible but satisfactory accommodation for one year for relocation of House Nurse and a single teacher at a cost of £10,000 (£26,000). Construction of two large rooms would provide long term TV Room/Games and Day Room/Social accommodation for young girls. A link with 56 Oakthorpe Road could be created with a Housemistress occupying the residential property. A Tutor or House Nurse could occupy the middle flat - estimated cost £120,000 (£312,000 today), in effect bringing forward essential work by one year. Oakthorpe House would also be converted to a full Boarding House for 13-18 year old girls (40 boarding and 45 Day Girls) (General Purposes, June 1996). As already stated Macnamara’s House is to be converted from a Boys’ to Girls’ Boarding House and the proposed conversion of Tilly’s House to house the Modern Languages Department with Housemaster’s residence becoming available for teacher’s accommodation. Seven different sites earmarked for the construction of a new Boarding House (Governors’ Meeting, June, 1996) The City Planning Department ask for architectural changes to Oakthorpe House’s original plan. Their preference is a ‘link’ with 56 Oakthorpe Road rather than an ‘extension’ (General Purposes, September 1996)