Cotham School welcomes multi-million pound revamp

Staff and students at a Redland school have welcomed the opening of a new multi-million pound teaching block.

The new £12 million science, art and technology block may have been a week late in opening but apparently everyone is thrilled with the result.

Staff worked round the clock at the start of term to move out of the temporary classrooms and into the new block. The renovation forms the main part of a £20 million revamp being carried out by builders Skanska.

Head teacher Malcolm Willis said the delay had been frustrating for all concerned and he could only apologise to parents.

But he added: "We have suddenly got some absolutely super facilities.

"We wanted them to be suitable for 21st century learning.

"There are lots of possibilities to work in a more creative and autonomous way, encouraging students to be more independent."

The new block is kitted out with Apple Mac computers and is much more eco-friendly than the old 1930s building. It has solar panels on the roof and collects rainwater for use in flushing unisex toilets.

Cotham is one of six Bristol schools being remodelled in a £100m scheme under the last government's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. The project is run by the Bristol Local Education Partnership (LEP), which comprises Bristol City Council, Skanska and the Government agency Partnerships for Schools.

No other Redland schools are set to benefit from the scheme.

So what do you think? Do your children go to this school? What do you think of the new block? Is it a welcome addition or are the works a massive disruption during exam periods? What about the delay? Was it really worth the wait? Or do you think they should have stuck to the strict deadline for completion?

Perhaps your children go to another school? Could they do with an injection of cash and a revamp? 

We want to hear from you...