Work takes shape at Tetbury school

A courtyard at the school, which has been granted performing and visual arts college status, is in the final stages of a £250,000 conversion project.

Cotswolds author Jilly Cooper is one of several names who have backed the scheme which will provide students and community groups with a dedicated venue for small theatre productions, art exhibitions and music workshops.

Arts college manager Stefan Chilcott is looking forward to moving his students in.

He said: "It gives the kind of space for Tetbury that the school hall and even the Dolphins Hall don't offer and it will put the school at the heart of the community in a way that it hasn't been before.

"I would say it will be used all day every day, if not by classes, then by the community."

Half of the courtyard is being covered over and a glass wall, which can be opened, is being installed.

The remaining outside space will become a seating and exhibition area The original plan to improve performance facilities was to build a space onto one of the art rooms but when the architect took a closer look it was decided the quadrangle right in the heart of the school was ideal.

Mr Chilcott explained: "The idea was that it would be central to the school, not out on a limb. As soon as you walk through the front door you see the school's commitment to being a specialist arts college.

"We are really pleased with what the architect has come up with."

"It will allow us to have a whole series of more intimate performances. Sometimes big halls don't provide the best venues."

A small team of future journalists has been keeping fellow pupils updated on the progress of the work with regular reports shown on plasma screens around the school.

It is expected to be finished during the Easter holidays with an official opening planned for July.

Meanwhile pupils are making their own mark on the school by creating murals on walls that used to house lockers, moved as part of the improvements.