New Willow Block at St Philip’s School

Students and staff at St Philip’s School were excited to get their first look inside the new Willow Block on the school site in Chessington. Work began in the 2024 summer holiday and has continued throughout the school year, generating much interest as everyone has watched the project take shape.

When school returned from the Easter break Mr Walsh, the principal, was able to take all year groups on a tour of the new facilities. These include three workshops on the ground floor for Animal Care, Food Technology and DT and Construction classes. Upstairs there are a further four classrooms including two science labs, a drama room and another vocational space.

Mr Walsh, said, “Our vocational courses are a valuable part of the curriculum, and the new Willow Block will give us state of the art facilities that offer a fantastic alternative to traditional classroom teaching. We are delighted with the new building and can’t wait for lessons to begin!”

The building has been constructed using modules that were fabricated off site and assembled on location. It was designed by Surveyors to Education and constructed by Wernick Buildings. The team are aiming to achieve a BREEAM sustainability rating of ‘Very Good’. [BREEAM stands for ‘Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology’ and is the methodology which sets the world standard for rating systems of building and works as an environmental assessment method.]

The project has been funded by Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and other donations have been received to ensure the classrooms are equipped to the highest standards to enhance the opportunities for the 185 students aged 9 to 19 attending the school who have a wide range of ability levels and additional needs including complex autism.

The finishing touches are now being made to the classrooms, and they are being fitted out with teaching equipment. Staff and students can’t wait to move into the new building and make use of the fantastic new facilities.