Science Blocks

To date the school has had three purpose built science blocks.

Science Block 1

The school's first science block photographed in the 1990s

The school's first science block was in about 1903. It led to a broadening of the school curriculum, and the appointment in January 1904 of John Harold Parkinson, a highly qualified master with BA and BSc degrees from London University, BSc from the University of Wales, and MA and PhD degrees from the university of Marburg in Germany.

The science block contained a "physical" and a "chemical" laboratory and a lecture room. By 1909 only one laboratory was needed, so the physical laboratory was used as a classroom by the headmaster, John William Dyson, who took two or three forms simultaneously in it, although the HM Inspectors didn't consider the furniture suitable for this purpose.. Adequate heating had been introduced into the block, but the chemical laboratory was "insufficiently lighted by the present gas jets".

By the late 1970s the block was being used for the teaching of biology with some of the rooms only occasionally used. Biology master, [[Patrick John Huston], commented in the 1980s that he considered the stonework over the main door to be in danger of collapse.

Science Block 2

The school's second science block photographed in the 1990s

In November 1948 a decision was made to seek the ministry's views on the likelihood of permission being granted to proceed immediately with the buildign of a gymnasium and changing rooms but it was over seven years before permission was given for the erection of a new science block and a combined hall-gymnasium.

Work began in December 1956 on the major new extension, designed by a former pupil, Frederick Ralph Bozeat, a member of the drawing office staff of Holland's county architect.