Play & Learn Area (PAL)
This newly refurbished area is set up to cater for KS1 pupils in the EYFS setting. Through our carefully planned curriculum and by using resources efficiently, the outdoors can provide children with vast learning opportunities benefiting many areas of their learning and development. Our PAL area can be a place where children can fully immerse in all types of learning, whether this is developing their gross more skills, developing social skills or learning in a practical way.
Millennium Building
On the ground floor our Music Studio is well stocked with a range of instruments and provides plenty of space inspiring our girls to develop a love of music and increase creativity and self-confidence.
There are two peripatetic music rooms enabling us to offer extra-curricular 1:1 lessons on a wide range of instruments with a team of visiting musicians during the school day. These include singing, string instruments, drums and woodwind.
The first floor houses our spacious ICT suite which is equipped with 24 work stations enabling us to not only teach the computing curriculum but also to support the other curriculum subjects through one of our learning platforms such as Purple Mash.
Pre-Prep
Girls start at Stormont in the Pre-Prep Department, initially in Reception then Year 1 and onto Year 2. Each classroom is spacious for whole class learning activities. The recently refurbished Link is a shared activity area from which the three classrooms surround. Entry is also available to the colourful outside play and learn area (PAL). Each classroom is equipped with interactive whiteboards and resources to support the curriculum. The Link contains a play area, book corner and art section which is shared by all the Pre-Prep classes. There is plenty of space for small group work and the area houses its own toilets that are specifically for the Pre-Prep girls.
Pearson Hall
Named after the second Head at Stormont, our air-conditioned Pearson Hall provides versatility for its use. Modular staging is available for class assemblies, concerts and productions and the hall comfortably accommodates the whole school for weekly assemblies. The hall is equipped with lighting and sound system for use with any lesson or production. The hall is split with bi-fold doors which allow us the flexibility to extend the space in to the dining hall for larger events such as our Christmas Yuletide and annual art exhibition.
Kitchen
Stormont has an in-house catering team who provide a wide selection of hot and cold dishes to cater for all dietary requirements. Our menu is created weekly and provides a variety of meals, which includes hot main meals, ‘deli dish of the day’, and a large selection of tasty salad options. In the winter fresh soup and homemade bread is available daily. All girls get the choice of a homemade dessert, yoghurt or the option to choose from a selection of fruit. All food is freshly prepared on site and the catering team take great pride in the presentation as well as the nutritionally balanced and tasty options.
Dining Room
Lunchtime is something all the girls look forward to at Stormont! We have two lunch sittings making the lunch time experience a social and very pleasant experience for the girls and staff. In the Prep lunchtime, girls are mixed between year groups on their tables to foster friendships across all years groups. Across all sittings, teachers sit with the girls and enjoy lunch together.
Art
Our impressive large art room is just one of 3 buildings in the Courtyard used to develop creative activity. This light and airy room has simple portable tables allowing staff to arrange the room to suit the curriculum being taught. The room is well equipped for the girls to explore a wide range of activities including observational drawing and painting, sewing, batik and large 3D work. The room is equipped with an interactive board as well as display boards and storage.
Pottery & Kiln
Designed for half class sizes our pottery room allows our specialist staff to teach the skills involved in this medium from Reception to Year 6. The room is equipped with a kiln and houses an impressive display of current projects and finished articles.
DT
Situated in the Courtyard which was once the stable blocks of the former house, the DT room is complete with an interactive board as well as work stations and tools for specialist staff to work with half classes from Years 3 – 6.
Science
Our science lab is also located in the Courtyard and caters for half class sizes that have weekly science lessons in this room with our specialist science teacher. The room is designed for practical sessions allowing the girls to think scientifically and learn through predicting, testing and refining ideas.
Library
Our modern library is accessible to all pupils and allows for whole class lessons. The library is stocked with a range of books covering a wide range of genres as well as appealing non-fiction books. Girls in Prep are able to spend a break time in the library reading a book of their choice or browsing through one of the subscriptions such as the Weekly Junior or Eco Kids Magazine among other publications.
French
Our French room is set up to teach half classes from reception to Year 6. Equipped with an interactive board, our French teacher is able to teach using a range of practical strategies such as songs and games in a room that is stimulating and nurtures a love of language.
The Courtyard
The Courtyard houses the Art Room, Pottery & Kiln Room, DT Room, Science and the French Room. One side also give access to the Dining Room. Within the Courtyard we host parent gatherings in the warmer weather as well as some creative lessons from the neighbouring classrooms. Our 75th celebration play was held in The Courtyard when the Prep girls recreated a story from time gone by about the main house.
Dyson Room
Perhaps the most impressive room in the school with its high vaulted ceiling, ironwork chandelier and original fireplaces at each end is the school library, which is named after Mrs Dyson, the first Head of Stormont School. Located on the second floor of the main house, the Dyson Room is used as a meeting room for the Head Teacher’s Biscuits, School Council, staff and parent meetings and many gatherings throughout the year. It is ideal for whole class lessons such as Drama which require space, or as a quiet study area for ESB exams. The Dyson Room has recently had an extensive makeover revealing many original features, and the addition of new heating and lighting has transformed this learning area into somewhere which the the girls enjoy spending time in.
Prep
Once the girls have completed their time in Pre-Prep, they make the transition to the Main House which has the form rooms for Years 3-6. The main staircase and stained glass windows are all original features of the main house, and are beautiful features of the building. Each classroom is unique and evidence of the grand former house can still be found in each classroom creating a very pleasant and calm environment for the girls to learn.
Pre-Prep Playground
Our Pre-Prep girls enjoy their playtimes in the Pre-Prep playground. During the day it is a playground with plenty of shade for the girls to enjoy, to be able to run around and play games of their own. In addition there is a big selection of play equipment available, which includes balls, hoops, stilts, catching games and ribbon streamers. Work is underway to create an ‘Enchanted Garden’ to the side of the playground for all girls to enjoy, both at breaktimes and for certain lessons.
Playground and Tennis Courts
Our tennis courts are also used as our Prep playground daily by Years 3 – 6 for morning break and lunch break. This is a lovely large outdoor space surrounded by trees. During breaktimes, the girls enjoy playing games together and using the playground equipment that is provided, which includes a variety of balls, hoops and catching games.
The tennis courts and netball courts are used in PE and for lunchtime and after school clubs. Stormont has one full size tennis court and one LTA orange court used for tennis both in the curriculum and by our visiting tennis coach. When needed, there are 6 LTA mini red courts marked out. The two netball courts are used for curriculum lessons, netball clubs, matches and tournaments. Two matches can be played alongside each other, with space for visiting teams and their parents to watch the matches.
Johnston Sports Hall
Named after a former Head who was instrumental in the clever design and building, our Johnston Sports Hall is a true hidden gem! This modern and well equipped facility enables us to continue with our curriculum regardless of the weather and the indoor viewing balcony also allows parents to watch matches and displays. The full size sports hall is used extensively for lessons, gymnastics and netball practice and matches throughout the week. At weekends a gymnastics club has full use for the day for competitions and lessons.
When the building was completed, Beth Tweddle, World and European Champion Gymnast, joined the celebrations to open the Hall on 18th June 2009. It was a momentous day. Girls continue their hard work in the field of gymnastics and often represent the school at competitions with great success.
