Published at 09:28, Friday, 09 July 2010

The first phase of a £20 million redevelopment of Cumbria’s largest secondary school is close to completion.

Site manager Richard Harris shows head teacher Alan Mottershead and pupils round the extension

• Video: Pupils tour the new building

For the first time all of the sciences will be taught together on the same floor inside the new block at Trinity School in Carlisle. They are currently spread out across three different areas of the 1,800-pupil school.

The new building, boasting an impressive sign overlooking a public short-cut known as zero path, will house science and technology, including IT and food technology.

Pupils and staff in two of the school’s houses – Asia and Pacific – will also be based in the new wing, using facilities for group tutorials and form periods.

As well as a new building, impressive modern facilities boast space and light, new cookers and appliances in food technology classes, computer suites, up to 12 science labs and environmental features such as underground tanks to collect rainwater to flush toilets, radiators installed in walls and ceilings and systems to help control heating.

Architects have listened to school leaders about what they wanted in the new wing.

This week a small group of year seven pupils, aged 11 and 12, visited the site along with headteacher Alan Mottershead and Sheila Johnston, one of the deputy heads leading the scheme.

An enclosed “Creighton courtyard” for pupils has also been created between the existing and new building. Features, such as seating, have been installed following pupils’ requests.

Youngsters, through school council meetings, have also asked for features inside the new wing.

As a result, builders have used block colours on walls to “colour code” departments - purple for technology - and are hanging timber doors instead of white ones to add character.

Mrs Johnston said: “The new block is looking great. It replaces two large temporary old cabins and the old area outside. The courtyard is still to be landscaped properly but it will be a great outdoor space for pupils. It isn’t a traditional playground and the school council helped to design it.

“It is all very exciting. I’m helping to organise the ‘decamp’ and there’s a lot of school trips on at the moment so teachers can get on with packing to move. Some of the staff have said they don’t want to go on holiday because of where it is at now.”

Wiring, fixtures and fittings are being installed and carpets and flooring laid before teachers and staff can start moving in next month.

Pupils were surprised to hear that classes will be held there from September, after the summer break that starts next week.

Impressed 12-year-olds on the tour included Caitlin Adam. She said: “It’s so hard at the moment to go through the school because you get pushed around because it’s narrow. This is so different to what we have already.”

Ellis Kirkbride said: “At the moment we go down tight, narrow corridors. This feels more open.”

Local firm Border Construction is leading the scheme. Over the last 14 months, up to 100 engineers have been working on the site at any one time.

They will remain on site as work begins on the second phase of four later this year. It will be a remodelling of the old Margaret Sewell part of the school and will result in the creation of a new kitchen, English and maths areas.

The firm is working at Trinity until 2012.

Site manager Richard Harris said: “The project is progressing ahead of schedule and phase one is due to be handed over in time for the new school term beginning in September.

“Students and teachers have visited the site periodically during the construction period, following which, they have commented on the internal aesthetics of the project, with particular enthusiasm expressed for the environmental aspects of the building and services incorporated.”

The firm and subcontractors have also run competitions for pupils over the last year. In addition, workers have raised more than £2,000 for the Eden Valley Hospice and the children’s ward at the city's Cumberland Infirmary by taking part in a “static” bike ride on site with engineers cycling the length of the coast-to-coast in shifts.

Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk