Pitsford sixth form centre officially opened

Opened by the school’s great friend and patron, Mrs Duckworth, the ceremony was great fun for students and guests. Also in attendance were the Lord-Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, James Saunders Watson, and the Right Honourable Stuart Andrew, MP newly elected representative for Daventry and Northants.

The new Centre marks an exciting point in Pitsford’s history. Pitsford’s Sixth Form is now bigger than it has ever been, and alongside increased numbers, the school has widening its curriculum, adding new subjects including Photography, Business Studies and Psychology. The new Centre provides state-of-the-art facilities to support years 12 and 13, and it creates for them an exciting and dynamic space in the heart of the school. In its design stage, students were able to input their ideas, and the building reflects this with fantastic catering facilities, a wonderful social area, and university-style seminar spaces.

Although not formally opened until the 8th November, the students had already moved in and they held a spooky Hallowe’en film night in the Centre, which was a very popular Sixth Form social.

Head of Pitsford School, Dr Craig Walker, said, ‘it is difficult for lots of schools to give their Sixth Formers some autonomy and their own space as more and more of them are cramped and crowded. But, at Pitsford we are lucky that we are situated in thirty acres of beautiful parkland, and the Gill Duckworth Centre has been placed at its very centre, as the students who will use it are the heads of our school’. Alongside the new centre, the school has created a new Quad which links the Sixth Form to the refurbished Refectory. Dr Walker noted that, ‘in everything we do at Pitsford, we ask ourselves how can we put the child at the centre of things and this new build and Quad does just that. Exciting times!’