Welcome to our blog about the exciting, state of the art building extension that will see the Fullbrook 6 campus double in size. We will share updates on how the building work is progressing, along with any other useful information about the project.
You can also follow the progress on the Fullbrook 6 Instagram account @fullbrook_6
Today is the day! The scaffolding and safety fencing have finally gone, the old Portakabin has been removed, and our brand new Fullbrook 6 campus is fully open to students. We are over the moon with the final result, and what this means for students who study with us. The project which commenced with a ground-breaking ceremony in January 2022, was made possible thanks to generous investment from Learning Partners Academy Trust, and the new building reflects the college’s aspirations for its students. Along with the increase to the building footprint, students now have access to a dedicated media hub and lecture theatre, plus improved classrooms, independent and group study spaces, a new common room and café with access into an enclosed garden.
“We are delighted and excited to be in our brand new, state of the art Fullbrook 6 building. The new build consists of 9 classrooms, a specialist Media Hub, a lecture theatre, 2 large study spaces, its own canteen and Fullbrook 6 garden. The building will continue to allow our expanding and vibrant Fullbrook 6 community to thrive.”
“This is a tremendous facility for our students and staff. We have a strong academic offer for sixth formers, and now have the accommodation to match this. It is an exciting time for everyone currently at Fullbrook and for those joining the Fullbrook family in September 2023. This year has seen a wide range of improvements in and outside of the classroom and our students are rightly proud of and passionate about their school. We are appreciative of the support of the Learning Partners Trust in making this sixth form extension possible.”
The Fullbrook 6 Team looks forward to welcoming even more students over the coming years, in a setting that truly is Big Enough to Challenge, and Small Enough to Care!
As the spring term commenced after the Christmas break, we were delighted to welcome Fullbrook 6 students to the brand-new extension which is now open for learning! Almost a year to the day since we broke ground on the project, we’d like to share a little video with you that shows our journey to get to this point.
There is still some work to do, with our building team now commencing the retro-fit of the old part of the building and knocking through to the new part.
Things have continued to move at pace with the Fullbrook 6 extension, and we are pleased to say that the finish line is in sight! The scaffolding has come down from the front of the building, and we are finally able to get a true feel for what our new space will look like when the builders have finally finished. With plaster work and the electrics complete, the decorators have moved in to paint the walls, and the flooring will go in over the next couple of weeks. Outside, the front entrance is taking shape, with brickwork being laid to create the steps that will lead up to our new front door. While we’re obviously excited about Christmas approaching, Mr Evans and the Fullbrook 6 team are probably more excited about being able to welcome students to the new facilities in January.
Over the summer break, work continued at pace, with some of the exterior cladding completed, and more of the interior work taking place. Being able to get inside the building properly, and see the different areas that will be used for learning and recreation means we really can visualise what the rooms will look like when they’re complete. Some of the plaster work and electrical fixes were also completed in the new student common room, and exterior brickwork was also due to commence.
After the Easter break, the team construction team were full steam ahead, getting the exterior walls built so that they could move on to creating the interior partitions, staircase and begin the electrical and ventilation work. It’s been amazing to see the new build really start to take shape, and give hints of the space we’ve envisioned for our students.
After the February half-term break, it was all systems go in readiness for the delivery of what could only be described as a mountain of steel! RSJs to form the frame of the F6 extension arrived on site in a steady procession of delivery lorries, and the team then proceeded to lift them into place using mobile crane unit.
With the weather picking up, students were able to watch the frame taking shape during their break periods, and it was phenomenal to see how quickly the structure began to take shape.
With the site finally cleared, the team from MCS Construction Ltd were able to get started on digging out the trenches for the foundations of the building. It was amazing to see the footprint for the extension start to take shape, which has helped to give some context to the scale of what we’re building for our students. While the weather may have been a little bleak, the atmosphere on site was certainly bright at the prospect of this next stage being completed.
As students broke up for the February half-term, the concrete base was poured, and everyone was eager to see what progress would be made once everything had set!
Staff and students gathered today, for a ground breaking ceremony to mark the start of the state of the art, £1.5 million extension to Fullbrook 6, the sixth form college attached to Fullbrook School in New Haw. The project has been developed thanks to generous investment from Learning Partners Academy Trust (formerly Athena GEP) and is designed to take the Fullbrook 6 student experience to the next level, in preparation for life beyond sixth form studies.
The new building will translate the college’s high-quality teaching into an inspirational learning environment that will offer an attractive, stimulating and adaptable space which motivates everyone continuing their educational journey at Fullbrook 6. Once finished, students will benefit from a more spacious campus which offers an enhanced learning experience. Along with the increase to the building footprint there will be a state-of-the-art media hub, university style lecture theatre plus improved classrooms, independent and group study spaces, plus a new common room and café with access into an enclosed garden. The new extension will also maximise the southerly aspects of the inside and outside spaces to bring plenty of natural sunlight into the building for students during their working day.
Today’s ceremony was particularly significant for Fullbrook 6 as they were also hosting a ‘taster day’ for Fullbrook’s current Year 11 students who will have partial use of the new facilities during their time in the sixth form. The project is scheduled for full completion in time for the current Year 10 students starting their A Level studies in September 2023.
Toby Clouston, Director of Fullbrook 6, said:
“I’m proud to lead Fullbrook 6 at this pivotal time. The new facility will be a substantial upgrade. My priority during its creation is to ensure that students continue to receive a high quality education and that they retain the separate facilities that give Fullbrook 6 its independent character.”
Mrs K. Moore, Principal at Fullbrook School, said:
“We are excited to begin a project that will vastly improve our offer for current and future students of Fullbrook 6. This has been made possible by a £1.5 million donation from our trust, which demonstrates the high regard in which they hold Fullbrook 6 and the belief in the quality of the education that we provide for all our students. This investment will support our students to go on to be better than they ever thought they could be.”
Mr J. Mayhew, CEO of Learning Partners Academy Trust said:
“Fullbrook produces exceptional students who go on to study a range of subjects at university. Learning Partners Academy Trust (formerly Athena GEP) felt that it was time that the physical facilities at Fullbrook 6 reflected the amazing quality of the teachers and the students. We are delighted to invest £1.5 million in Fullbrook as we are confident that the demand for places for Fullbrook 6 will continue to grow on the back if its success.”
With planning permission now granted, work has started on appointing contractors and agreeing the project timescales. It will be amazing to see Lytle Associates stunning vision for our Fullbrook 6 campus come to life when the building work starts on the project.
Concept images and floor plans courtesy of Lytle Associates Architects
Mr Clouston, Director of Fullbrook 6, shares wonderful news about plans for the redevelopment of our F6 building, and hear what some of our students have to say about the exciting new facilities that will be available.
