A Distinguished Seat of Learning
From the foundation of the Augustinian Priory on the present site of Repton School in the 12th Century, through Sir John Port's bequest in 1557 and throughout the life of the School, Repton has maintained a reputation as a distinguished seat of learning through continued innovation and investment.
This tradition has been maintained and developed in recent times, with significant investment into the fabric of the School, including the magnificent new 400 Hall Theatre, tremendous sports facilities and unrecognisable boarding facilities, combining seamlessly with innovative and inspirational teaching at all levels.
The aim now is to build on that tradition with a new flagship project worthy of a school of our calibre in the 21st Century: the Science Priory. In doing so, the School will create not just a centre where the three sciences are housesd, but also a place of community where young and old, from Repton and beyond, come together to experience the excitement of shared discovery.
The Science Priory
Situated in a prominent position on the Headmaster’s Field, the Science Priory will enable Physics, Chemistry and Biology to share resources such as IT and technical rooms. Specialist small Sixth Form laboratories will facilitate project work that can run for several weeks. The Science Priory will consist of state-of-the art teaching and laboratory facilities, and will provide flexible, multidisciplinary space to support a science common room, a meeting place and a forum for science at Repton.
Additional resources will include a lecture theatre, wireless library, animal centre, observatory and ecological research station. There will be a multidisciplinary science library and a resource centre so that specific topics can be illustrated in an “exhibitstyle” science museum.
Technology will be harnessed, not as an end in itself, but to develop the quality of teaching and learning and to reflect the world in which pupils will live and work. The Science Priory will provide wireless Internet access and host PowerPoint and video conferencing facilities. Teaching rooms will be equipped with interactive whiteboards and tablets.
The Repton Foundation has embarked on a significant fundraising campaign to help finance the construction of this magnificent new building, as well as an extension of the provision of bursaries. To find out more about the Foundation, please click here.
Joint Projects
Joint venture projects with the private and public sector have provided pupils with insights into various aspects of these scientific arenas and with practical experience of some of their work. A sleep research project with Heartlands Hospital has engaged pupils in activities such as data collection and analysis; ongoing work with engineering giant Rolls-Royce is involving pupils in helping to develop activity to encourage young people to consider careers in engineering.
These projects will continue to develop over the coming months and other similarly symbiotic relationships are being enthusiastically sought.