It’s been an exciting term for the junior pupils of Shrewsbury High School who have now moved into their new junior school. It marks a milestone in the school’s 136-year history as it reunites its junior and senior pupils on its historic Town Walls site in the heart of Shrewsbury.
After a busy year of planning and preparation, staff and pupils moved into the fully renovated Georgian buildings in September and it is proving to be a term of discovery as the children explore their new spaces, both inside and out.
The newly-refurbished buildings at No 27 and 28 Town Walls are designed in every way to give children the best learning experience.
Head of Juniors Kate Millichamp explains, “In designing and planning our new classrooms, we have been able to select ergonomically-designed furniture, consider how the layout can have the greatest impact on learning and weave integrated technology seamlessly through each classroom. There are video walls, iPads assigned to each individual, green screens, robotics and augmented reality.
“Our pupils are enjoying discovering the enclosed forest school, the walled garden, hidden orchard and Junior School lawns and we were delighted to welcome parents for an outdoor celebration of our new school after school on our first day here.”
We were also delighted that Shrewsbury High School alumna, and former International Director of the UK Space Agency, Dr Alice Bunn, was able to join with Reception pupils to cut the ribbon on the new school earlier this term.
“We couldn’t have asked for a more inspirational guest. Dr Bunn in her role at the UK Space Agency and now as Chief Executive of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, is a perfect example to all our girls that there are no limits to their hopes and ambitions, no boy subjects or girl subjects, no boy hobbies or girl hobbies, just subjects and hobbies.”
The recent investment into the school by the Girls’ Day School Trust has allowed Headteacher Jo Sharrock to shape a school of the future.
“We are excited by the investment which has allowed us to modernise our campus, develop new facilities and improve existing ones to the benefit of all our pupils with the creation of innovative teaching, social and green spaces. We can truly make the most of our location at the heart of Shrewsbury to the benefit of both our students and our local community.
“At our core is a very firm commitment to the belief that girls learn most successfully and happily in an all-girls environment. We were established 136 years ago with a single principle at heart, to liberate the potential of girls. Having Juniors and Seniors all here together, we can invest our energies in being a small close knit community school with mighty ambitions for our students. With all of us on one site we can have a truly all-through curriculum, collaboration across the age range and seamless transition from juniors to seniors. The redevelopment will make Shrewsbury High School the only all-through, all-girls school in Shrewsbury, a family of big sisters and little sisters from 4-18 in the heart of our creative, forward-thinking and dynamic community”.
To arrange a tour of Shrewsbury High School, email admissions@shr.gdst.net
