20 March 2023
Woldingham School will open a new Sixth Form Centre and Library in 2024, having recently received planning permission from Tandridge District Council. Construction is due to start mid-2023.
Carefully designed to fit in with Woldingham’s stunning 700 acres of green spaces in the Surrey Hills, the new building will complement the surrounding area. The new building will provide innovative and vibrant spaces for students across all years, with dedicated areas in the Sixth Form Centre for older students as they make the important transition from school to university, developing careers as lifelong, empowered learners.
The Sixth Form Centre and Library will make a valuable addition to the school’s existing excellent facilities, which include professional quality music and drama facilities in the school’s Millennium Centre with its 630-seat auditorium, wonderful science labs, light-filled art studios and excellent sports facilities.
The new building will bring the Upper Sixth and Lower Sixth together for the first time in a shared Sixth Form Centre with collaborative workspaces, flexible learning areas supported with cutting edge technology, a careers and university zone, and a café.
Woldingham’s Head, Dr James Whitehead, commented: ‘This will be an exceptional new facility which will embody Woldingham’s philosophy of empowered learning. It will be a beautiful building, a sector-leading development for our school and a place where our students will thrive’.
Head of Sixth Form Mr Phil Abbott said: ‘Our plans for these outstanding new facilities reflect our exciting vision for Woldingham’s Sixth Form. I am excited to see our Sixth Form students connecting, colliding and creating in our collaborative work zones whether in academic pursuits, extra-curricular activities or leadership roles. In the centre’s first-class learning environment, Sixth Formers will thrive and fulfil their academic potential, leaving as confident, compassionate and courageous young women able to have a positive impact on the world.’
The new library will house Woldingham’s existing extensive collections with space for additional books, periodicals and online resources as well as new areas for individual and small group study and reading.
The Sixth Form Centre and Library is part of a wider development plan, which has already seen the opening of a new Outdoor Adventure and Education Centre in 2022.
For a preview of the building's interior designs, click here.