Scotch College

Building the Education Revolution (BER) Project in the Junior School

For the first time since it opened at Hawthorn in 1916, the Junior School is receiving Federal Government funding to renovate and expand its facilities.

WORDS: Mr GUY MASON – HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL Photography: Mr Tim Shearer

Earlier this year, the Federal Government announced its Building the Education Revolution (BER) program that sees $12.7 billion in funding being made available for a variety of building programs within the primary school environment. Every primary school around the country, regardless of sector, is eligible under the BER guidelines to build or renovate facilities.

The BER Guidelines indicate that funding can be used for capital expenditure on the following items (in order of government priority):

1. Construction of a new library;
2. Construction of new multi-purpose halls (e.g. gymnasium, indoor sporting centre, assembly area or performing arts centre), covered outdoor learning areas;
3. Construction of classrooms, replacement of demountables or other building to be approved by the Commonwealth; or
4. Refurbishment of existing facilities.

The Scotch College Junior School, having an enrolment of 430 boys, was entitled to apply for up to $3 million in federal government grants and has received funding approval to renovate and extend the Junior School Assembly Hall.

These renovations will include re-levelling the Assembly Hall floor; acoustic treatment; expansion of the Assembly Hall into the courtyard area, adding raked steps and allowing for 100 additional seats as well as secure storage areas for musical instruments. In addition, this project will see the enclosure of the courtyard with a solid and glazed roof structure above a single level covered learning area. Soft furnishings and a mini amphitheatre will provide additional performance space for our boys to enjoy.

Solar panels and the harvesting of rain water will provide new environmental dimensions as we move towards a more environmentally sustainable Junior School. Demolition works commenced during the last school holidays and it is hoped that the project will be completed by the commencement of the 2010 school year. The Junior School community thanks the Federal Government for supporting the education sector as a whole, and particularly for providing this wonderful facility for the Scotch boys of today and tomorrow. GS