Beard completes 4th project in a £12m school's building programme for Oxfordshire

Bill Berry, former Headteacher of Bartholomew School in Eynsham, Oxfordshire, took a great deal of pride in opening the school’s new sports centre which has been named after him.  The Berry Hall, built by Beard, the southern-England construction company, is the fourth project that Beard has completed in its £12m schools building programme for Oxfordshire County Council.

The development of the new sports centre, which comprises of a new sports hall and fitness suite, was driven by a partnership between the school, Oxfordshire County Council and West Oxfordshire District Council. After waiting nearly 18 years for a new facility, the school finally got the go-ahead after a successful bid for funding from the Opportunities Fund and the Sports Council.

Mark Harrison, Bartholomew School Site Development Officer, who lead the project said:

“The co-operation between all parties involved in the project has been critical to its success. County Officers, Kevin Griffin and Howard Hughes worked closely with Beard and the Headteacher, Andrew Hamilton and have at last seen their efforts rewarded. The involvement of Beard during the build and up to the opening ceremony has been very professional and an experience we would gladly enter
into again.”  

The local community in Eynsham are also benefiting from the new facility which is being managed by Wycombe Leisure Ltd.  Individuals can sign-up for membership and use sports centre outside of school hours. Wycombe Leisure is very pleased with the interest shown by local residents since the sports centre opened and groups using the new hall include the County Badminton Club and staff from Beard, who use the hall to practice five-a-side football.