Grand Opening – What A Success!
The new teaching building was officially opened on Saturday 29th February 2020 by Lieutenant Danielle Welch, star of ‘The Real Top Gun’ on ITV, and former St. Dominic’s Priory School pupil. Over 200 visitors attended the Grand Opening where there were tours of the building, activities utilising the new teaching technology and refreshments and lunch provided by the school’s caterers. The rooftop classroom proved to be a particular hit, despite the weather, and visitors were particularly interested in the beehive which will be a pupil project moving forward.
If you were able to attend our Grand Opening we would be grateful for your feedback. Please fill in the short survey - Grand Opening Survey
The new building houses state of the art science laboratories, performing arts studios and peripatetic music rooms alongside high-tech classrooms with interactive screens and whiteboards. These facilities will enrich the education and experiences of our current and future pupils and will give them the opportunity to fulfil their potential. The Senior School is now able to accommodate an additional 20 places for each year group enabling the GSCE choice to continue to expand.
Press Articles
Stoke Sentinel - February 2018
https://www.stdominicspriory.co.uk/development#sigFreeId08957d69ba
New Teaching Block
Work has commenced on the new replacement teaching accommodation at the rear of the school site, on the former staff car park by the canal. Please keep checking back and visit our social media pages to see the progression of the works.
Week Commencing Monday 1st April
This week, some of our youngest students went to visit the building site. They asked Pete lots of questions about the new teaching facility and learnt all about keeping safe. They went back to their classrooms with lots of new knowledge and ideas, and are looking forward to inviting Pete over when they have built their very own model teaching block!
https://www.stdominicspriory.co.uk/development#sigFreeIdea5849adc7
Week Commencing Monday 25th March
With the floors firmly in place, we thought it was a perfect time to visit the top of the site! A beautiful view on a beautiful day; making us even more excited for our rooftop classroom. Who can spot the lift shaft?
https://www.stdominicspriory.co.uk/development#sigFreeIdc99752a270
Video Footage
Have you seen our video footage of the build? If so, you will have noticed that the floors have recently been concreted. If not, why not? You can find the most recent video on our development page, and all others on our Youtube Channel.
We have also received some new architect images which show different angles of the development - don't they look great?!
https://www.stdominicspriory.co.uk/development#sigFreeId267b675eba
The First Brick Has Been Laid!
Mrs Harrison, our Headteacher has laid the first brick for our new £2.7M teaching block, which is due for completion later in the year. She was joined by our Vice Chair of Governors Mrs Champ, our youngest and newest Pre-School children and also Georgia, Emily, and Amelia from Year 11 who have attended St. Dominic’s from the age of 3, and been a part of the development and growth of the school since they started in 2006.
Everyone enjoyed this landmark occasion. Thank you to the Site Forman Pete Bartlett from Kettle and Talbot and all the workers on site for being so accommodating.
https://www.stdominicspriory.co.uk/development#sigFreeIdfd24121d8b
Week Commencing Monday 11th February
All steelwork has now been erected, in just 2 and a half weeks (wow!) and the site is ready for bricks to be laid on Monday. Primary 4 and 5 went for another site visit on Thursday and asked Pete lots of interesting questions. Yasmina asked, 'What happens when it rains and snows?', Mrs Harrison was particularly pleased with Pete's answer of, 'we carry on working!'. There were questions about the safety of the steel erectors and their PPE, the rooftop classroom and also the location of the drama studio and science labs. Once again, a very informative and enjoyable visit.
https://www.stdominicspriory.co.uk/development#sigFreeId0e7e4ae401
Week Commencing Monday 28th January
It has been a wet but busy winter so far, with the site contractors battling through the cold, wind, ice, rain and snow! However, there is now something exciting to see above the boundary wall as the structure is being erected and the building is taking shape.
https://www.stdominicspriory.co.uk/development#sigFreeId3305767798
Week Commencing Monday 27th November
This week, Primary 4 and 5 donned their wellies and hi-vis and arrived on site with Mrs Harrison and staff for their very first site visit. They were well prepared with clipboards and questions and enjoyed being on the site and finding out lots of information from Pete, the site manager. They are looking forward to their next visit.
https://www.stdominicspriory.co.uk/development#sigFreeId79caf58cc7
Week Commencing Monday 19th November
A school order has been placed for lots of hi-vis jackets and a pink hard hat !? This can only mean one thing ... site visits for students and staff are nearly underway, exciting! Friday was extremely busy on site, with a concrete pumper arriving very early followed by 12 wagons of concrete throughout the morning, as the foundations were laid.
https://www.stdominicspriory.co.uk/development#sigFreeId2b1ec110eb
Week Commencing Monday 5th November
Well, after a busy half term, the students have returned and are amazed at what is going on. The boundary wall has gone up for safety purposes but the students have a good view from windows around the school. The video equipment is on order so watch this space for some progression videos.
- This week's photos are courtesy of Yasmina
https://www.stdominicspriory.co.uk/development#sigFreeId1bb5f6d5ba
Week Commencing Monday 29th October
There are machines and workmen on site!! The site contractors, Kettle and Talbot have arrived, the boundary is up and there are portable offices being delivered for the site staff. Digging has commenced and it's already looking great...can a building site look great? Of course.
https://www.stdominicspriory.co.uk/development#sigFreeIde5afb06570
School House
This facility now accommodates the school's admin staff along with Mrs Harrison our Headteacher and our Deputy Headteacher Mrs Hesp. Areas have also been designated to accommodate the library, after-school homework club, senior staff room and conference room.
Access to and from 37 Station Road is from the rear, through the existing boundary between the property and the school grounds, which delivers convenient access between the building and the remainder of the school and also avoid any increase to comings and goings at the front of the property.
School House Exterior
The house itself has had a new roof to compliment the fresh new look. The rear garden has been opened up at the back so it is now encompassed within the school site, picnic benches on the back lawn are a great addition for lunch and break times.
https://www.stdominicspriory.co.uk/development#sigFreeIdce2ba71e15
Library
The library, which is situated at the front of the house, has had a major transformation. The dull room is now warm and cosy and a perfect home for our senior homework club. The library also has a bright and modern computer room on its lower level.
https://www.stdominicspriory.co.uk/development#sigFreeId6f2f97ba09
Hallways
The porch of the house has been renovated to become our entrance hall and school office. The beautiful, Minton tiles in our hallway have been preserved and the stairs have been given a modern new look.
https://www.stdominicspriory.co.uk/development#sigFreeId4ff2c2884c
Admissions and Marketing Office
The first-floor office no longer houses the patterned curtains and décor. We have welcomed the new design of the grey and natural colour scheme throughout. The upstairs of the house also had to have new ceilings, which was not part of the initial specification but was essential to maintaining the structure of the property.
https://www.stdominicspriory.co.uk/development#sigFreeId29a21931cc
Car Park
The extension to our existing visitors’ car park is complete! A new exit has been added and the car park has doubled in size to facilitate staff, visitors, and parents and ease the flow of traffic at busy times of the school day.
https://www.stdominicspriory.co.uk/development#sigFreeId8a8226ebed
