The run-down 1960s buildings stand empty now. They have served their purpose for nearly 40 years, but are no longer adequate for modern learning. The demolition of the old blocks in a few weeks' time will signal the start of a new era for Archbishop Grimshaw catholic school, in Solihull, West Midlands.
Pupils will no longer have to traipse in all weathers from one building to another for lessons in different subjects, often arriving late, wet, cold and distracted.
"We tried very hard to have a seamless time-table which facilitated the prompt movement of pupils around the seven buildings, but it proved quite difficult," says Abid Butt, the assistant headteacher responsible for teaching and learning.
On November 3, pupils and teachers moved into new £25m buildings on the same site, as part of a major BSF project which will regenerate Chelmsley Wood, the northern part of the borough.
In all, five schools — two special and three secondaries — are being rebuilt in the area, at a cost of about £100m, and all will be up and running by the end of this year. Mike Luntley, head of the local authority's school assets support team, says Solihull is not an area normally associated with deprivation.
"The image of Solihull tends to be one of affluence and leafy streets. In fact, Chelmsley Wood is among the 10% most deprived areas of the country, with high unemployment, large numbers of pupils having free school meals and academic achievement at below national average levels."
The area is being completely redeveloped in a major regeneration project costing hundreds of millions of pounds. Residential tower blocks are being replaced with new housing built around open spaces and new roads.
"This whole area was designed in the 1960s, essentially with cars in mind. What we are creating now will be for people, with a return to traditional communities," Luntley says. "These new schools will be the focal point of those communities. Everything is geared up to raising aspirations and higher educational outcomes. We want people to have a pride in their schools."
The single modern, state-of-the art building at Archbishop Grimshaw houses every subject— apart from PE — under one roof. The existing swimming pool and sports hall is to be refurbished and new playing fields created on the site of the old school.
"The new facilities at all of these schools provide opportunities to redesign the curriculum, with greater emphasis on personalised learning, with their excellent facilities, particularly in terms of ICT and technology," says Philip Moss, Solihull's services director for school quality.
Teachers at Archbishop Grimshaw have already received training in how to use the new ICT equipment, and most pupils had an extra few days off over half term while staff and contractors moved to the new buildings.
"It has been a very exciting time for everyone," Butt says. "Pupils were actively involved in the design of the new school through projects and competitions.
"There was a lot of sadness in leaving the old school but there is euphoria now about our future direction."
The school's transformation was not all plain sailing however. As the new buildings grew around them, pupils found themselves more and more confined at break times as their playground space shrunk.
"Teachers opened up their classrooms at lunchtimes, but children had little space to run around and play games," Butt says. "Part of the playing field will be out of use for months because it has been re-turfed, but pupils have generally reacted to these setbacks with great patience and good humour.
"There was a real sense that what was happening was for the good of the school and something we had to endure."
Butt says the new buildings will shape the school's vision of how teaching should occur in the future. Examination results are already improving year on year with 46% of candidates gaining five or more top grade GCSEs last summer — a figure that is expected to rise to 51% next year.
"We believe the new environment will give pupils and staff a school they can be proud of and provide all the resources they need to succeed," Butt says.
"Teachers have already been reviewing the way they teach, moving away from the 'chalk and talk' approach to more accessible and interactive methods, which will inspire pupils and hopefully turn them into lifelong learners.
"The success of a school is about more than just buildings. It is the work done in the school by teachers and pupils that will make the difference."
