Past visitors to the school may remember the warm welcome that they received from the young people based in the slightly creaky, old friend of a building that was Badger House, formally the home of our 6^th Form students. Well, their welcome is just as warm but the venue has changed to the sparkling new build which has put an even bigger smile on their faces.

The new facility is set in an ‘L’ shape and joined to the main school by a covered walkway. A sunny, west facing outdoor leisure space will be a real summer bonus for the students and this is accessed from a huge and versatile room that is served by adjacent kitchen facilities. This is an ideal space for the students to socialise and come together. There are some exciting projects being planned such as the a cafe which will be run and organised by the students!

The building itself covers almost 800 sq metres and, unlike the other school buildings which went up in 1974, this purpose built building is a steel modular construction. The steel was made in Birmingham before being shipped to Dublin where Extraspace, the company who were responsible for leading the construction, transformed it into modular sections. Each section was then transported on special lorries to be unloaded and assembled on site. We are very grateful to our neighbours for putting up with the increased traffic over the summer holidays.

As a sustainable school, we are very conscious that the new building should have a small an impact on the environment as possible. The construction process left a carbon footprint 50% less than that of a traditional build. The materials used are also claimed to be more than 95% recyclable. We don’t just fly an eco flag for fun!

The 6^th Form has all of the facilities necessary for presenting students with the style of education that so impressed Ofsted but in an even better environment. Classrooms are large and fully equipped with interactive technology. Sliding partitions make spaces flexible and ceiling mounted hoist runners allow movement for those who are not as mobile as others. Motion sensors operate the lighting and a purpose built interactive sensory theatre will offer a further curricular dimension. Corridors are wide, toileting and personal care areas are designed to offer independence and the kitchen space invites the students to make independent living the norm. Add storage space, office space, a staff room, meeting room and an ICT suite to the mix and you have Brookfields new 6^th Form.