10 September 2020
Unseasonably heavy rain brought to Woldingham in August by storms Ellen and Francis were enjoyed by Woldingham’s Head of Operations Mrs Rachel Leyland more than by most of us. To Mrs Leyland they were a stern test of our new soakaway and other drainage infrastructure installed in the summer, which passed with flying colours!
This project was one of more than 20 managed by the Operations Team in just two and a half months rather than the planned six as work due to start in March could not get off the ground until June due to the COVID lockdown. Even when the team was able to get on site, there were further challenges. Items ranging from sanitiser to screens were in short supply and very limited availability nationwide for a planing machine required to resurface the netball courts.
Other projects competed included three updated common rooms, two new locker rooms, a new English classroom, lighting for MFL classrooms, a linen room, a caretaker and security office at the heart of the school and, very importantly for students, a new tuck shop.
Alongside these long-planned building projects, the Operations Team was involved in installing COVID-safe measures, such as signage and additional sanitisers to make sure the school was safe to welcome back students in September.