Thinking about the Future
Pupils joining the First Form now may be working until 2060 and beyond. It is possible that they will be better served by skills, knowledge and attitudes which are different from those that are currently relevant. The School's vision for the future seeks to equip pupils to take their place in a world that is likely to be very different from ours.
A good School Development Plan must provide a clear focus and be the driving force for the advancement of the school. It does this by clearly articulating a vision of the future to which everyone should be able to subscribe.
WHERE WE HAVE COME FROM
In 1998 an ambitious plan was formulated to significantly enhance the teaching and learning environment. It was a plan in several discrete phases. The first phase was to buy the former primary school located on the fringe of the School. Once acquired the building was converted into a five-studio Art Department, which was opened in 1999. The second phase involved the creation of a Library and Study Centre that would provide a calm, attractive and sophisticated place for pupils to study. Linked to this was the development of new ICT facilities both in the Library and in a newly created IT department. Both the Library and new IT suites were opened in 2000.
The next phase involved the total renovation of the Lower School Centre, the enlargement of the DT department and the provision of more changing rooms. This was completed in 2001.
The fourth and final phase of the initial plan involved building a new Biology Department, re-housing the Senior Day Boy Houses and creating a new and better equipped Modern Languages department. The new Biology Department was opened in the summer term of 2003, the Day Boy Houses and the Modern Languages department were relocated in 2005. In addition to these scheduled developments a suite of new Chemistry and Physics laboratories opened in 2004, and a new Girls' Boarding House in January 2005. All the classrooms in the 1895 building were refurbished in the summer of 2005 and equipped with appropriate computer technology. The following two years saw both The Manor and Fitzmaurice House refurbished, and in 2009 a second Astro pitch was commissioned. Over the last two years, new stylish accommodation for senior day girls has been opened, Wi-Fi has been installed across many parts of the school, new playing fields have been established to provide three extra rugby pitches, a cricket square and athletics facilities, and work has started on the third and final phase of Science. The completed Science Department is due to open in September 2011.
There can be no doubt that these improved facilities have helped to enhance the quality of both teaching and learning, as well as providing our pupils with modern and comfortable living accommodation.
AND WHERE ARE WE GOING
Maintaining breadth and rigour and encouraging scholarship will again be key elements of our curriculum in the coming years, as well as a growing emphasis on independent learning. We will continue to build on the recent initiatives intended to provide greater academic challenge beyond the bounds of the examination syllabus: The Head Master’s Essay Society, the Extended Essay Competition, the Monday Lunch Club, the OU module programme, the Sceptics’ Society, the Mercers’ Lectures and the Junior Scholars’ Group have all become popular and welcome additions to our academic extra-curricular programme. A complementary curriculum is now being established in the Fifth Form which is designed to take pupils into hitherto unchartered waters: Politics, Critical Thinking, Global Issues and Citizenship being some of the key elements of this new course. In terms of capital development, new changing facilities, a new purpose-built fitness suite and a new Performing Arts Centre are all on the wish list, though it is likely that the School will now be pausing for a moment so as to hear the views of the new Head who will be in post from 1st September 2012.
AND WHAT ARE WE NOT GOING TO CHANGE
The friendly, supportive atmosphere where teacher and taught can fulfil their individual potential and aspirations while remaining courteous, caring and loyal to each other. This has always been Dauntsey's greatest strength.