STRATFORD Girls’ Grammar School has secured £2.9 million for further redevelopment.
The Shottery Road school secured the grant from the Department for Education for phase two of a revamp which will include a refurbished assembly hall, new dining room and kitchen, a full-size sports hall and changing rooms, as well as extra teaching space consisting of three classrooms, a drama studio and a fitness suite.
Headteacher Kate Barnett said: “This is fantastic news – we are all truly delighted.
“Our bid was greatly strengthened not only by the project having received planning permission, but also by the fabulous fund-raising efforts of our campaign team which successfully raised over £440,000 in cash and pledges between last September and January, demonstrating the excellent support the school enjoys from its community, and especially its parents.
“We are all very grateful to everyone who has contributed with such warm-hearted generosity to our campaign. Phase Two of our buildings master plan is by far the biggest project the school has ever seen and will have a huge impact on the girls’ rounded development throughout their time with us.”
Much of the school campus, which was opened in 1958, is still as it was in the 1950s and 60s.
Over the last 12 years the school, which currently has 651 pupils, has worked to develop its facilities with developments funded mainly through savings and small grants.
It was following a decision in 2011 by the governing body to expand the school, that the current development masterplan was formulated.
Phase one of the project, also funded by the DfE, opened last June and consisted of a new £1.5 million library and teaching block.
Phase Two building work is set to start in July and be completed by the start of the autumn term next year.
* STRATFORD Girls Grammar scooped two top prizes in the Young Enterprise Company Programme – for the second year in a row.
More than 100 students from five secondary schools made up nine companies for this year’s South Warwickshire event.
The scheme, which is run over one academic year, helps develop key commercial skills and provides a real-life experience of business enterprise.
The competition’s overall winners were Prospero from Stratford Girls Grammar School and they will go forward with Infinitas – who won best team performance – to represent the area in the Coventry and Warwickshire final at Coventry University on May 1.
Other prize winners included Alcester Grammar, Alcester Academy and KES.
