The School's Development

Background

The School is housed in a splendid Georgian building to which additions have been made as the School has grown. A second large building was erected in 1931 but major expansion took place from 1957. The money for this was provided by the Wheelwright Trust and from the School's Development Appeal Fund.

The Old Courtyard

In 1957 a new classroom block was built and the 1960s brought a whole series of developments including the Chan Music School, Bentley Swimming Pool, a Home Economics Unit and new boarding accommodation. The pace was maintained in the 1970s with the provision of new classrooms, squash courts, a games hall and, crucially, the Wade Science Block which provided new facilities for all the major sciences.

Growth continued in the 1980s. More study-bedrooms for girls and boys were provided and in 1983 a major building programme was undertaken following a School Development Appeal. A magnificent new building was opened containing ten new classrooms and a multi-purpose Assembly Hall which can seat the whole school.

In 1984 a new Library was established in the atmospheric old Assembly Hall and a further classroom block was opened which is now linked to a specialist suite for Design and Technology. A new Sports Hall and a state-of-the-art Performing Arts Centre (1999) followed.

Recent developments

Among more recent developments are

• The stripping and total refitting of the Science Department Laboratories and Prep Rooms with the best of modern fixtures and equipment (Summer 2003).

• The refitting of the Art Department, the complete refurbishment of the Library and the creation of a new Reception Area and offices in the administration building (2005).

The Art Department		The Library

• Continuing, major upgrades of ICT equipment and the whole-school network: this includes the installation of interactive whiteboards and projectors in teaching areas, internet access from all areas of the school and from each boarder’s study-bedroom and a proliferation of additional ICT suites (an extra one for whole-school use, and numerous smaller ones for specific applications), totalling a dozen or so ICT areas.  The School currently has Microsoft 2007 installed on the network and individual departments make use of additional subject-specific software. Click here for information about Microsoft 2007 compatibility.

• The opening by HRH The Princess Royal in February 2007 of a new community Sports Club, including a completely renovated and updated swimming-pool with viewing gallery, squash courts, reception area and changing-rooms. The fully air-conditioned gym has a large range of equipment and a state-of-the-art audio-visual system.  As well as being a superb amenity for our pupils, the Club also serves a broader charitable purpose: we make available excellent sports facilities to the local community, at extremely reduced rates.  By January 2008, membership was standing at  some 1100.  Reviewing the use of the facilities all the time, we shall continue to ensure that as many people as we feel we can accept as members have the benefit of access to the Club.

The Swimming Pool		The Gym

• The updating and refitting of all existing boarding areas and the creation of three new boarding annexes.

Boarding facilities

• The total refurbishment of the Sixth Form Centre to provide stunning but practical rooms for work and leisure (2007)

The Sixth Form Centre

• In 2008, Slitheroe House was completely refitted and returned to boarding accommodation for Lower School boarders and Beacon House was created to provide a new day area for Years 7 and 8. Entrance areas and corridors were refurbished and new signage added.

Slitheroe House

Heathfield

Just as the main school has expanded, so has our Junior School, Heathfield. It occupies a handsome stone-built house standing in its own extensive grounds close to the Swimming Pool and its own Sports Hall.

Extensive alterations have been made to the original buildings in order to provide specialist rooms for Art, Music and Design Technology. The latter was refurbished in July 2008.

Our superb environment allows outdoor learning to take place in a number of curriculum areas such as Art, Music, Science and Humanities – as well, of course, as Games.

In 2007 our self-contained Foundation Stage Unit was refurbished in order to house the very youngest pupils. The activities are based inside and out within their own secure environment. Year 1 and Year 2 children are accommodated within the main building in their own Key Stage 1 area.

		The ICT Room has been completely refurbished with 22 new computers and all classrooms have interactive whiteboards, a computer and are linked to the main network.

The recently refurbished Out-of-School Care facility has spacious accommodation for indoor and outdoor activities catering for our pupils from Nursery to Year 6 before and after School as well as during holidays.

Time does not stand still at Rishworth. It is a thriving, expanding school which responds to needs.