In May, Blackheath High School GDST opened the doors of its £18 million redevelopment for a Grand Opening evening welcoming parents, teachers, alumnae students and a star-studded line-up of speakers.
Among those invited to address the school community was Caroline Criado-Perez, the writer who led the movement to put Jane Austen on the £10 note. In her speech, the campaigner praised the school for ignoring gender stereotypes saying:
“With girls here doing ballet, football, science and art – they are taught that the glass ceiling may exist, but it is there to be smashed.”
After five years of planning and building work that went into the redevelopment, GDST CEO Cheryl Giovannoni officially opened the new school by illuminating ‘Take Flight’ – an art installation created by the students and the school’s Artist in Residence, Imogen Gilbert. The symbol of a bird was chosen as one of freedom and possibilities, working both individually and as a collective. The flock of birds represents the students launching out into the world and flying high.
Amongst the new facilities unveiled were a brand-new library and resources centre, and specialist teaching environments for Art, Design & Technology and Music. All of which will provide Blackheath High School’s students with further opportunities to showcase their creativity, including in areas such as fashion design and textiles, the latter of which Blackheath High is a specialist in teaching.
Cutting-edge Apple technology was added to all classrooms in the school, sure to be welcomed by students whose participation rate in Computer Science GCSE is well above the national average, with a third of girls due to sit the exam next year.
The school’s renowned focus on promoting mental wellbeing is reflected in the investment in a new wellbeing sedum roof garden for girls to relax and enjoy; and ‘The Pod’, a contemplation space for meditation and idea generation.
Blackheath High has also boosted its sports offer by adding a brand-new top of the range fitness suite and outdoor games court to complement their existing multi-acre Sports Campus, along with a brand new Sixth Form Centre to inspire a mature, pre-university atmosphere.
At the heart of the school now sits a beautifully designed courtyard featuring a “Mini-Louvre” for students and staff to enjoy.
With Greenwich Park and the Heath next door, the school will be sure to continue making use of its world-class location through GCSE Astronomy classes at The Royal Observatory, rowing on the River Thames, and a mini (London) marathon on Blackheath for the Junior School pupils.
Delivering the closing remarks was Head at Blackheath High School, Carol Chandler-Thompson who said:
“These amazing new facilities are going to provide our girls with the very best learning environment for them to grow and become leaders of the future.
“It was only fitting that an unstoppable woman like Caroline was here to deliver a keynote speech that will inspire our girls to really make the most of these wonderful new surroundings.”
If you would like to see these amazing improvements for yourself then we thoroughly recommend you book a visit.