Surrey Homes | SH41 | March 2018 | Fashion supplement inside

Education
Investing in the brains
of tomorrow
From theatres to science labs and social hubs, three schools tell us about
their exciting new facilities, guaranteed to inspire young learners
The King’s School, Canterbury
What are the new facilities at the school? A collection of
basement rooms beneath Shirley Hall, the school’s main hall and
performing space, has been transformed into an open, modern
and attractive area comprising ‘Chums’ (the new Pupils’ Social
Centre), updated classrooms and a new specialist University and
Careers room which is now rightly positioned at the centre of the
school.
Preparation for the construction of the new Science Centre in
the Mint Yard area of the school has seen two old chemistry labs
relocated from beneath the soon to be demolished Mitchinson’s
Day House. The new labs are bright, spacious and designed to
allow synthesised theoretical and practical work.
Specially designed desks allow pupils to flow from one task to
another and provide ample space for more active teaching and
learning.
Mitchinson’s Day House has relocated to a site just
outside the main entrance of the school, where Count
Zborowski housed the original ‘Chitty
Chitty Bang Bang’ racing cars.
Designed by award-winning London architects Walters & Cohen,
the building provides contemporary areas for both study and leisure
activities, in easy reach of the main school buildings that lie within
the precincts of Canterbury Cathedral.
What was the inspiration to invest in this particular aspect of
school life? To provide a 21st century education within the context
of a World Heritage Site.
What are you most pleased with about the way the project has
turned out? The relocation of Mitchinson’s Day House enables
a transformation of classroom teaching and learning allowing an
integration of the sciences.
Did you use any specialist advisors or companies to design or
build the facilities? Award-winning London architects Walters
& Cohen are designing the new Science Centre and the new
Mitchinson’s house. They had previously overseen the conversion of
a former primary school into a new girls’ boarding house at school in
2016. Creative arts specialists Tim Ronalds Architects are contracted
to convert a Victorian malt house into a performing arts centre.