Conrad Humphreys, founding ambassador of the Blue Project was delighted to be asked to officially open High View School in Plymouth at a special ceremony held at the school on 26th March 2012. To mark the occasion, Conrad unveiled a plaque situated in the Space for Sports and Arts area of the school.
High View School is one of of the first schools to be involved with Blue Schools, a Blue Climate and Oceans Project initiative and is currently working with the organisation on a pilot of the scheme, so the school felt it fitting that Conrad was asked to unveil the commemorative plaque.
He was joined at the ceremony by Council Leader, Vivien Pengelly, The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, Chief Executive, Barry Keel, the new Director for People, Carole Burgoyne, along with Head teacher, Kim Dorian-Kemp and staff, governors and pupils from the school, as well as members of the Efford Community.
The event not only celebrates the £8.6 million construction project to create the brand new school, replacing former Highfield and Plym View schools, but recognises the school’s fantastic recent achievements including an ‘Outstanding’ rating from Ofsted for its July inspection, as well as the school’s recent designation as a National Support School.
The fantastic facilities include spacious and space-age new building designs to make learning a pleasure with a hall for sports, a studio and a performing arts hall, with changing rooms for community use, meeting rooms and a media suite.
As part of the futuristic design the building is angled to make the most of the views and the sun’s energy and light, while avoiding overheating and sheltering the external play areas. It also features good insulation which, combined with natural ventilation and the other environmental technologies, reduces its energy needs.
Headteacher of High View, Kim Dorian-Kemp said: “From the onset, the school emerged as a product of the hopes and aspirations for our community. Every aspect of it has involved the children, even down to deciding the colour of my office. It’s been an incredible journey that we are very proud to be a part of and most importantly, our children have benefited enormously from our fantastic new school, which is at the heart of the Efford community. I’m delighted to have Conrad Humphreys open our school, as his passion for sustainability and conservation fits so well with our ethos.
