Halliford School’s New Dining and Performing Arts Development
Halliford School’s New Dining and Performing Arts Development
Following the successful completion of our new Learning Resource Centre, the Governing Body at Halliford School was keen to progress to the next stage of our ambitious site development plan.
Halliford’s Healthy and Nutritious Meals
If you ask our students what some of the best things about our school are, food is almost certainly in their top ten, with healthy and nutritious meals sourced locally and prepared by our own catering team. In line with our ethos of seeing our students as individuals, we were keen to expand our catering provision to offer even more choice.
During lockdown, we extended the space for catering to meet the requirements of social distancing. As this restriction diminished, we found that having space for students to enjoy their lunchtime in convivial surroundings and to take their time over the delicious food provided was hugely beneficial to our sense of community.
Headmaster, James Davies said, ‘In a world where food can often be seen as something to simply consume, we feel that the art of conversation and camaraderie developed by spending time together at the dinner table are qualities we want to encourage our students to foster.’
The Forum
Our latest project extends our existing Dining Hall and provides a multifunctional space for meetings, teaching, and hosting visitors and community groups. Following a student competition to name the area, it is known as the Forum, from the Latin for a place in the middle of the community for people to meet together.
In designing the space, we provided a new servery area for greater lunch choices, including a dedicated salad bar and more space to showcase the range of hot and cold food options. We also decided to provide round tables, allowing groups of eight to sit and talk together during lunch and other events held in this space.
Dining Room Refurbishment
Our existing Dining Room was completely refurbished to match the Forum and now provides a dedicated space for our younger students to enjoy their lunchtimes together. We then extended our kitchen facilities to give our talented team of chefs the best facilities to prepare our delicious meals. We continue to source our fresh fruit, vegetables, and meat from suppliers on Shepperton High Street, in line with our commitment to the local community and sustainability.
The John Crook Theatre
Alongside this project, we had the opportunity to refurbish our existing performing arts spaces. The John Crook Theatre has undergone a complete makeover, including new seating provided thanks to the generous support of our PTA. We have also upgraded the technical provision in the Theatre with the latest sound and lighting equipment, which our students have the opportunity to become proficient using, under the expert guidance of our full-time Theatre Technician.
Completing the Project
To complete the project, we added a new Drama Studio to the building, providing a space for additional creative performances and a wonderful new lobby and theatre entrance area for those visiting the school. We are delighted that many local groups are already signed up to make use of these facilities, and we are always pleased to support local community initiatives.
Sustainability
Finally, in line with our commitment to sustainability, we decided to install a green eco-roof on top of the Forum and Drama Studio, creating a wonderful feel to the courtyard at the centre of the school. We are already seeing local wildlife coming to this space to enjoy it too.
Using the Space
Earlier this month, our talented students brought Mark Haddon’s acclaimed novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time to life on stage in our newly refurbished John Crook Theatre. The ambitious amateur production showcased the students’ incredible acting skills, as well as the dedication of the Halliford Drama Department in guiding them through this challenging yet rewarding adaptation.
The play revolves around Christopher Boone, a 15-year-old boy with autism, who is determined to solve the mystery of who killed his neighbour’s dog, Wellington. As the plot unfolds, Christopher uncovers hidden truths about his own family while confronting his fears and navigating the complexities of social interactions.
Director Mr Bruno shared his admiration for the students’ commitment to the production. ‘Watching these young actors grow into their roles and embrace the play’s central themes of acceptance, courage, and resilience has been an absolute joy,’ he said. ‘Their ability to bring such a powerful story to life on stage is a testament to their talent and dedication.’
The rotating cast featured Jack in Year 11, Ollie in Year 10, Dylan in Year 9 and Lucas in Year 11 as Christopher Boone, all delivering mesmerising performances that captured the character’s unique perspective and emotional journey.
The audience was equally captivated by the performance, with many praising the students’ ability to convey the story’s emotional depth with one parent commenting, ‘Absolutely outstanding show!! What a great night.’
In addition to the outstanding performances, the production featured an LED dancefloor which provided an innovative set design and clever use of lighting and sound effects to enhance the audience’s experience.
As the curtains closed on the final performance, it was evident that Halliford School’s amateur production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time had left a lasting impact on everyone involved, as well as the community that gathered to support these talented young actors. The production’s success was undoubtedly enhanced by the recent refurbishment of the theatre with the updated space providing an intimate setting that allowed the audience to fully immerse themselves in the story. The new seating, lighting, and sound systems ensured a comfortable and engaging experience for all who attended.
Visit Us
Halliford School’s next Open Day takes place on Saturday, 1st March, when you are most welcome to come and see these new facilities and meet our students and staff.
There truly is no better way to experience the distinctive culture and ethos of Halliford School than to visit us. For more information and to book, please visit: hallifordschool.co.uk
