After over 12 months of hard work, in collaboration with a team of brilliant people and organisations, we are delighted to have now officially opened our brand-new STEAM Centre of Excellence and Innovation.

This new centre will enable the delivery of a forward-thinking ‘STEAM Powered, Future Ready’ education that will perfectly equip our pupils to step fearlessly into the workplace and ‘future jobs’ that haven’t even been invented yet.

We were joined by a host of VIPs and dignitaries for the event that included acclaimed British chef Rob Aikens, who is Culinary Director at Thomas Franks. Rob and his team prepared a range of specially curated, delicious, sustainable aperitifs for the event and having the support from such an accomplished and renowned chef was hugely inspirational for our pupils in attendance. We were thrilled to welcome our Year 7 pupils and their parents who all had a good explore of the Centre too.

Cognita CEO, Europe and USA, Michael Drake was also in attendance, and we were delighted to have Michael address our pupils and attendees before helping to cut the ribbon with Rob Aikens and Headteacher, Karen Gracie-Langrick.

Michael said, “Our job as educators, is to teach the academics, but also, to build character traits, the competencies and capabilities that will hopefully stand our children in good stead, no matter what the world looks like. I think that a ‘Steam Powered, Future Ready’, curriculum is brilliantly aligned to our purpose so I am really delighted and very excited about the STEAM Centre that we present to you today”.

Karen concluded, “This truly was such a huge project, and one that will benefit Colchester Prep and High School pupils for many years to come. We will continue to post in the coming weeks to show just what a positive impact these maker-spaces are having on our pupils as we start a new exciting academic year”.

Thank you so much to everyone who came along to our official opening.