St Bede’s will breathe a sigh of relief in two months’ time when building works at the school are completed and they can finally spread out.
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With 143 students currently enrolled, the school’s size has increased in recent years, as have its staff numbers.
Teachers in particular felt the squeeze, with not enough space in the staff room for all 14 employed by the school.
Works will increase the space available for teachers and improve storage facilities allowing for the teachers to meet together and work more effectively.
The planned works will rejuvenate the staff room, improve storage facilities, create a dedicated meeting room and provide an office for the assistant principal and the religious education coordinator.
Everybody is prepared to go through a bit of pain for a lot of gain.
- St Bede's principal Trish Ferlitsch
A rise in student, and consequently, in staff numbers, means the school has found itself bursting at the seams, says principal Trish Ferlitsch. “We’ve grown as a school, and so the facilities for the staff were not enough for our current staff,” she said.
To meet, the 14 staff members presently use the library or a classroom. They also have no dedicated space apart from a small staff room to meet with parents or visitors.
The new meeting room, created by separating the server from an annex to the library will create space for the teachers to meet together or private space to meet with parents.
Likewise, assistant principal Julian Laffan and religious education coordinator Ann Monkhouse cannot both fit at once in the office they share. Their new office next to the school hall will allow them to work in one place when not teaching.
In addition to these works, the old toilets will be revamped to become a proper storage area. An awning will be added to provide outdoor space for wet weather play.
Construction areas will be fenced off during the build, and the school hall will become a temporary staff room. Students will have to have to meet outdoors for short periods for prayers and awards.
A bit of disruption will be worth it for the extra space, though. “Everybody is prepared to go through a bit of pain for a lot of gain,” Mrs Ferlitsch said.