CHAPLAIN’S MESSAGE AND BURSARY UPDATE
C OM M UN I T Y
Bursary update Despite the continuing difficulties posed by the pandemic, 2020-21 proved a hugely productive year for the Bursary Team. The highlight has to be the delivery of the new Junior School, STEM block and Sixth Form Centre which opened to students when we returned after our Easter holiday. The state-of-the-art facilities are the most significant additions to the College site since its foundation in 1888, and will ensure that St Dunstan’s continues to provide an education that is ‘ahead of current time’, true to the wishes of our Founders. I am so grateful to the team at Willmott Dixon for being able to persevere through all the hardships caused by Covid-19, and subsequent lockdowns to be able to deliver the project on time and on budget. It has been truly wonderful to see all the pupils from Nursery through to Sixth Form enjoying the new spaces.
us with delicious food, whilst operating within all the restrictions placed on them by Covid-19. Even when we were working remotely, they kept an eye on our nutritional needs with home cooking recipes and ideas, and Chef Tony’s wonderful ‘Chef’s Kitchen’ videos.
We were also able to progress various refurbishments in the Historic part of the building, which included significant upgraded technology, storage and decoration, in each class. Drama and Music took possession of their new departments, as part of the larger Performing Arts Centre project, with an increased number of practice rooms and rehearsal spaces. This exciting project also saw completion of the Martin Preston Drama Studio and the Ben Chudleigh Recital Room. Work on the new Theatre continues and we look forward to the final grand opening of our new Performing Arts Centre.
Our community partnerships continued to flourish albeit with changes and interruptions due to the pandemic. Our sports fields and training facilities are regularly used by local primary schools and clubs across the borough of Lewisham. We have a number of key partnerships with Tottenham Hotspur and the MCC Community Cricket Hub, which provides free cricket coaching to local pupils. As things begin to open up, we look forward to extending these arrangements wherever possible, to ensure that our wonderful facilities can be enjoyed not just by the College but by the wider community also.
Demolition of the old Physics and Music block takes place over the summer, to allow for the landscaping of The Plaza which will provide the pupils with a beautiful open space in the heart of our school.
I look forward to reporting back on our ongoing developments across the next academic year and to seeing full use being made of the new facilities as restrictions lift and we are able to return to a more normal way of life.
I have been particularly grateful to our catering team across this year. They have worked so hard to continue to provide
Mrs C Wilkins
I am glad to report that we have made huge progress on our sustainability targets this year, with lots of new wildflower areas, more trees, student led assemblies, and an improvement and increase in our plant-based lunch options. This remains a key priority for the Foundation going forward.
Bursar
The CHRONICLE 2021
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