East of England construction company R G Carter were delighted to host a traditional ground-breaking ceremony at Simon Balle All-Through School in Hertford, to mark the start of construction on a new Sports Centre for students and the wider community.
This new 700 sqm Sports Centre will create a flexible space to provide for a wide variety of sports, including badminton and basketball, indoor football and hockey. Enhancing the school’s existing sports facilities, it will support the curriculum for all its students from age 4-18, as well as provide a welcoming new reception area at the front of the school.
Co-Headteachers Rachel Kirk and Michael Moss, staff and a group of students from the school, across primary and secondary years, joined the R G Carter team in celebration, marking the ground with spades where work is due to start imminently.
Members of the PE Leadership team expressed their excitement; “We’re thrilled about the construction of our new sports hall. This state-of-the-art facility will provide our students with unparalleled opportunities to engage in physical education supporting their active and healthy lifestyles. It will accommodate a variety of sports, fostering a stronger sense of community whilst enhancing values among our students. It’s an exciting development that will supplement our ambitious, progressive and inclusive PE curriculum.”
Students in Year 9 spoke about their views: “We just think that this is such an amazing opportunity for all of us at Simon Balle. The sports hall will provide opportunities for more exciting and multiple sporting events, before and after school as well as during the day, keeping everyone active and leading to a healthier community. It will also develop our leadership as we can welcome primary and secondary students from around the area, hosting amazing indoor events”.
Located to the front of the site, adjacent to the car park, the new Sports Centre and entrance will be ideally placed to be easily accessed out-of-hours, creating the ideal environment for physical activity for both the school’s students and local sports clubs and the community alike.
Andrew Culbert at R G Carter said: “We are extremely pleased to be working in partnership with the Simon Balle All-Through School to deliver this much-needed sports facility and reception space. We are looking forward to delivering this wonderful new sports environment which will not only benefit current pupils but also many future generations to come.”
Designed by Saunders Architects, the building aesthetics have been chosen to blend in with the school’s natural surroundings, using an attractive bronze perforated cladding, covered in decorative woodland images.
Simon Balle School is an all-through co-educational school, which provides primary and secondary teaching facilities.
The project was funded by the Department for Education (DfE), through the Condition Improvement Fund, and is targeted to complete, for the benefit for both students and community alike, in summer 2025.
For more information on Simon Balle All-Through School see https://www.simonballe.herts.sch.uk/
View more on R G Carter’s expertise in Education Construction : https://www.rgcarter-construction.co.uk/sector/education-2/
