I am delighted to share our plans to transform the former caretaker’s bungalow and garden into a welcoming new dining and social space for students across Years 7–13. We are inviting our school community to help us bring this exciting vision to life.
Our catering partners, Nourish, have invested in two new outdoor catering units, which are due to arrive within the next few weeks and are expected to be ready for students to use by half-term. They will provide a fantastic starting point for the wider development. Our next ambition is to transform the surrounding area into somewhere students will genuinely enjoy spending time: eating together, meeting friends and taking a break in an attractive, comfortable and welcoming setting.
The project takes its name, Au Petit Creux, from the French expression for feeling a little peckish! However, our ambitions extend well beyond the food. We plan to:
- transform the garden with additional outdoor seating, tables and chairs, planting and outdoor heating points;
- completely refurbish and redesign the former caretaker’s bungalow, creating attractive indoor space for colder and wetter days, alongside additional toilet facilities; and
- develop an allotment area, creating opportunities for students to become involved in growing and caring for produce.
Together, these improvements will give an existing part of our school site an exciting new purpose, creating facilities that benefit both our current students and those who join SHSG in the years ahead.
The project also brings our school development priorities of Belong, Excel, Sustain and Thrive (BEST) to life: creating a space that supports friendship, community, wellbeing and a strong sense of belonging.
How families can support the project
We have established a dedicated fundraising account and are inviting families who would like to do so to support the project through either a one-off donation or a regular contribution. Donations of any size will make a difference, helping us fund everything from furniture and planting to the materials needed to transform the bungalow and surrounding area.
We would also be delighted to hear from local businesses interested in supporting the project through sponsorship or practical assistance. This might involve a financial contribution, supplying materials or equipment, or offering specialist skills and expertise. If you or your employer may be interested in becoming involved, please contact kcroysdill@shsg.org.
We are extremely fortunate to have a committed and talented premises team who can undertake much of the work themselves. Their skills and expertise will help us keep costs down and ensure that every contribution goes as far as possible.
Looking further ahead, we would also like to explore making the completed facilities available for suitable events and lettings outside normal school use. This could generate additional income to reinvest into the school, helping us continue to improve facilities and opportunities for our students.
Following the transformation
We want parents and students to be able to see the project develop and, importantly, to see the difference their support makes.
We will therefore keep a video diary of the transformation, sharing regular footage and updates as the work progresses. We enjoyed making our first video update in this letter and look forward to showing you Au Petit Creux as the year progresses.
All donations will, of course, be entirely voluntary, and we are grateful for whatever support families feel able to offer. Students will benefit from the completed facilities regardless of whether their families contribute.
Thank you for considering supporting Au Petit Creux, and for everything you already do for SHSG. With the support of our school community, we have an opportunity to transform this part of our site into something genuinely special: a place students will enjoy and feel proud of for many years to come.
SHSG
