Ceremonial opening of new Willow Building
The new Willow Vocational Teaching Block at St Philip’s School was officially opened with a ceremonial cutting of the ribbon by Terence Devenish a former pupil. Terry was the 11th pupil enrolled at the school when it opened 71 years ago. The school invited Terry back as the guest of honour to officially open the new building in front of many of those who had been instrumental in bringing the new building to life.
Peter, Terry’s brother speaking on his behalf said: “This is a fantastic school. Terry was one of the first students here and they equipped him so when he left this school, he worked all his working life until his retirement. You students, you’re lucky this a beautiful, lovely place to learn.”
Pupils took Terry and other invited guests on a tour of new facilities where they saw pizzas being made in the Food Tech room, a science lesson underway, and had a chance to meet some of the reptiles in the Animal Care room. They also visited the Design Technology class and saw pupils working on woodwork projects and learning how to lay a brick wall. They were served coffee by a pupil who works at the school’s Talbot House café once a week.
Ben Walsh, Principal, said, “The ethos and the culture at St Philip’s is all about independence. It’s about all young people coming to us and when they leave us being ready for the world of work. All of the rooms have been designed for our cohort but with industry in mind.”
Vocational courses are a valuable part of the curriculum and the new Willow Block incorporates industry standard facilities built to help train the cohort of pupils at the school.
Mr Walsh thanked Surveyors to Education, the architects who designed and project managed the building, as well as Wernick Construction, Achieving for Children and the Royal Borough of Kingston for funding the project, The Wolfson Foundation who provided a grant for equipment in the rooms, Ellingham School next door, staff at the Trust in Finance, HR, Estates and Facilities and Development for their support. He also thanked the fantastic staff team at St Philips and the students who had carried on throughout the project.
Emma Hyett, Principal Architect at Surveyors to Education, said “It was a fantastic opportunity to work closely with the School, Trust, and Local Authority to bring this much-needed facility to fruition. This was an exciting and unique project, and we are incredibly proud to have played a part in its success.”
Laurie Cornwell, Deputy CEO of Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust, thanked the team at St Philip’s and all those who have been involved in the project for having the vision and for turning it into a reality.
