The Academy took full possession of the new build in time for the beginning of the new academic year and students and staff alike now have access to state of the art facilities.
The gymnasium has now been linked into the new build and comes complete with a new stage as well as top of the range lighting and sound facilities.
On the other side of the ground floor corridor is the drama theatre which comes complete with its own separate sound & lighting system and retractable seating. For large Academy events the partition walls between the assembly hall & drama theatre can be pulled back, creating an even bigger space.
The Academy has also been equipped with a dance studio, complete with its own individual sound system & sprung wooden floor.
The Science & ICT departments have been in use since June and are equipped with up to date facilities as well as more space for the ever increasing number of Belvedere Academy students
Within the existing building, extensive refurbishment of numerous areas has also now been completed.
The Modern Foreign Language department now has 2 specialist IT labs & the physics departments facilities have been upgraded
In addition, a new geography classroom has been created, additional 6th form seminar rooms, ICT breakout areas and a new 6th form dining, study & social area
Elsewhere we have increased the outdoor seating provision for break times (with more to follow) and carried out extensive decorations throughout the Academy. New lockers have also been installed throughout the Academy in order to provide students with more secure storage facilities
With regards to the building work that is yet to be completed, we are to take possession of the Form Room Block on Monday 5th October. This building has been completely renovated (inside & out) over the last 3-4 months and the facilities the students will have access to from 12th October will represent a significant improvement on what was there previously
There is also a new link block between the old building and the form room block that is still under construction. This is due to be completed in early November and will provide a new stairwell and lift to allow for a freer flow of student & staff traffic into the building and also to improve the accessibility of the Academy for those staff, students & visitors who may have a disability
Also ongoing at present is the landscaping work. The early signs of this can be found at the front of the new build & car park but more is to follow in front of house 11, and to the rear of House 19 & House 17.
The construction contractors will be off site by the end of November 2009.