What's New?

While pupils and teaching staff were enjoying the long summer vacation, building and development work continued apace on the Repton campus.

Significant alterations were made to the Junior Common Room, involving an expansion of the space available, with redecoration and refurbishment of the facilities. The JCR has traditionally been the focus of Sixth Form social life at Repton and is, according to Deputy Head Sarah Tennant, “a much-loved corner of the school”. Pupil art work will be hung in what Mrs Tennant terms a “bright, modern space” which will, she confidently predicts, “continue to be a vibrant social centre for current and future generations of Reptonians”.

On the sporting side, a substantial investment in new equipment for the Fitness Room is expected by Director of Sport Ian Pollock to make “a massive difference” to not only the school’s top-end sporting performers, but also to the health and well-being of the broader pupil community, who will also use it. A sizeable extension has doubled the floor-space available, enabling the number of cardiovascular stations to rise to fourteen, and a brand-new free weights area has been added. Elements of the Physical Education academic syllabus can now also be taught in the Fitness Suite, further enhancing the usefulness of this handsome new facility. To view more photographs please click here.

Work on the major redevelopment of the 400 Hall has also continued, and details of the magnificent new interior are beginning to rise from the shell of the gutted building. According to Guy Levesley, Director of Dramatic Productions, those familiar with the old “400” will see an enormous difference. “The interior is entirely unrecognisable”, he comments. “The intimacy of the relationship between performers and audience will be enormously heightened”. A horseshoe balcony and tiered stalls seating will enhance the feeling of spectator involvement, while a new glass-fronted foyer extension will greatly improve the quality of the interval experience. Work is due to be completed by Christmas, with a large-scale school production (“It will be big”, promises Mr Levesley) scheduled to launch the new performing space in 2011.