Despite the ongoing pandemic, and wherever possible, planned campus developments to improve Hurst’s facilities are continuing.
The new Pelican boarding house opened in the second half of last term, and looks amazing both inside and out. The Pelican girls love their new spacious accommodation and its bright, modern interior has given an excellent edge to Hurst’s boarding offering. The old Pelican house is currently being converted into new Prep School classrooms for Years 3/4, science laboratories – and some rooms have been set aside to expand the Medical Centre with a wellbeing area.
The sky bridge between the Music School and the New Bury Theatre has also been completed, which helps physically tie together the performing arts areas. This link, with full AV, allows performers the opportunity to warm up in the Dance studio, before their cue to be called on stage.
A temporary dining facility was erected on the MUGA (multi-use games Astro) last term to ensure continued catering provision for all, whilst maintaining effective social distancing. The marquee, which is twice the size of the Sports Hall, has a fully operational kitchen facility, seats over 360 and provided daily meals for the Prep School and Sixth Form before lockdown. Just recently this facility has undergone another transformation to function as a COVID testing centre, to help maintain a virus-free campus by offering rapid testing to children of key workers and staff who are operating our remote curriculum.
Work has also started on the latest campus development with a new dual-aspect pavilion to sit alongside the tennis courts to offer some much-needed protection from the winter elements for spectators watching netball, and a shady spot for our cricketers in the Summer.