Bristol Metropolitan College
Encyclopedia
Bristol Metropolitan Academy, formerly Whitefield Fishponds Community School and later Bristol Metropolitan College, is an academy in Fishponds, Bristol
, England. The original school building was built in 1836 by the architect Charles Dyer
but was rebuilt after its destruction by German bombs during the second world war
, and was replaced in 2008 with a new building on the same site and became an academy from the beginning of the 2009–2010 school year.
During 2005, Whitefield Fishponds Community School was given Language College status. It is one of the few schools in Bristol to have been awarded this. The status recognises that Whitefield excels in the teaching of foreign languages to the local community.
In 2006 construction began on a new school building, on the existing site, and by summer 2007 the exterior construction was finished, with the interior fitting of the school and the landscaping of grounds to be completed. The old school buildings have been demolished, however Briarfield and CLC3 remained, and the new school building opened in May 2008.
Bristol Metropolitan College was the second school in Bristol to be completed under the Building Schools for the Future
programme. Designed by Wilkinson Eyre Architects, it uses the exemplar Learning Cluster, or "strawberries" are they are affectionately known, first used at the John Madjeski Academy in Reading.
The focus of the school is the central street, which is designed to be the heart of the school, providing a place for social interaction between students and staff and to give the school a sense of identity and drama. The environmental aspects of the school were also critical; maximisation of natural daylight, use of natural ventilation, recycling of rainwater for use in toilets and the use of biomass, recycled timber waste, to generate heat and power.
The school was designed collaboratively by the architects, an educationalist and also the school itself.
At one time, Whitefield School had four sites - Whitefield Lower Mixed, the lower co ed site located in Alexandra Park in Fishponds,(subsequently an Adult Education Centre), Whitefield Lower Girls on Fishponds Road, Eastville (subsequently demolished for housing) and Whitefield Lower Boys located at Greenbank. Students 11-13 spent the first three years at one of the lower schools, before transferring to the Whitefield Fishponds Upper School, adjacent to the current site of the Bristol Metropolitan College, for years 14-18 (or Sixth Form as the last two years of school were then known).
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England. The original school building was built in 1836 by the architect Charles Dyer
Charles Dyer
Charles Dyer was an architect based in London who designed many buildings in and around Bristol.-Some buildings of Charles Dyer:* St Pauls' Church, Bedminster * Engineers House, Bristol 1831...
but was rebuilt after its destruction by German bombs during the second world war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and was replaced in 2008 with a new building on the same site and became an academy from the beginning of the 2009–2010 school year.
History
In 2003, Briarfield (a specialist school for children with disabilities) was built in Whitefield's grounds, and later a City Learning Centre (CLC3) was constructed adjacent to Briarfield. The CLC houses equipment designed for work with media projects.During 2005, Whitefield Fishponds Community School was given Language College status. It is one of the few schools in Bristol to have been awarded this. The status recognises that Whitefield excels in the teaching of foreign languages to the local community.
In 2006 construction began on a new school building, on the existing site, and by summer 2007 the exterior construction was finished, with the interior fitting of the school and the landscaping of grounds to be completed. The old school buildings have been demolished, however Briarfield and CLC3 remained, and the new school building opened in May 2008.
Bristol Metropolitan College was the second school in Bristol to be completed under the Building Schools for the Future
Building Schools for the Future
Building Schools for the Future is the name of the previous UK Government's investment programme in secondary school buildings in England. The program is very ambitious in its costs, timescales and objectives, with politicians from all English political parties supportive of the principle but...
programme. Designed by Wilkinson Eyre Architects, it uses the exemplar Learning Cluster, or "strawberries" are they are affectionately known, first used at the John Madjeski Academy in Reading.
The focus of the school is the central street, which is designed to be the heart of the school, providing a place for social interaction between students and staff and to give the school a sense of identity and drama. The environmental aspects of the school were also critical; maximisation of natural daylight, use of natural ventilation, recycling of rainwater for use in toilets and the use of biomass, recycled timber waste, to generate heat and power.
The school was designed collaboratively by the architects, an educationalist and also the school itself.
At one time, Whitefield School had four sites - Whitefield Lower Mixed, the lower co ed site located in Alexandra Park in Fishponds,(subsequently an Adult Education Centre), Whitefield Lower Girls on Fishponds Road, Eastville (subsequently demolished for housing) and Whitefield Lower Boys located at Greenbank. Students 11-13 spent the first three years at one of the lower schools, before transferring to the Whitefield Fishponds Upper School, adjacent to the current site of the Bristol Metropolitan College, for years 14-18 (or Sixth Form as the last two years of school were then known).