Exciting redevelopment project gets underway at St Mary’s Senior School

St Mary’s School has commenced the redevelopment of its Senior School in Bateman Street, Cambridge, this week, as part of a project that will transform the school’s learning environment for current and future generations of students. The development, which is part of a larger capital investment programme across the school’s sites, will include both enhanced classroom provisions and significant improvements to the overall appearance of the school buildings.

St Mary’s has a long history in Bateman Street, which has been home to its Senior School for 118 years. The current site has not undergone any major building work or renovation since the 1970s.

Following planning approvals, and a short delay to the original construction dates, work began in earnest on 16 January 2023, with completion for this first phase targeted for early 2024. During these initial works, the ‘Crush’ Building, which is located at the Senior School site overlooking Bateman Street, will be remodelled to include a new two storey extension comprising four new state-of-the-art classrooms. This new area will be constructed using cross laminated timber, which is manufactured off-site, to reduce project timescales and minimise the potential for disruption.

The next phase of works will consist of significant enhancements to the school’s frontage. The entrance to the building will be pushed back - creating a larger lobby. This will improve accessibility for parents and students at pick up times. It will also create a public space, which the school will support with enhanced landscaping.

Summer 2022 also saw the completion of an initial round of works at the Senior School, with the refurbishment of the dining hall and the addition of a new outdoor classroom and a LAMDA Speech and Drama teaching space.

Charlotte Avery, Headmistress at St Mary’s School, said:

“We are delighted that work has begun on our ambitious Senior School redevelopment project. We look forward to creating an inspiring learning environment in which current and future students will thrive. Our long-term vision is now becoming a reality and the investments we are making today represent a tangible expression of our future ambitions for the school and its pupils. This really is an exciting time for St Mary’s and we look forward to reaping the benefits of our work soon!”

Find out more about the plans for the Senior School redevelopment.