Chair of Governors, James Dean and CEO of Stripy Stork, Nicola Dawes, officially opened the new classroom block at a ribbon cutting ceremony before half term. It will provide state of the art classrooms in the heart of the school's 15 acre site.

Over the 2021 summer break, work began on constructing four contemporary classrooms at Reigate St Mary’s in Chart Lane, to accommodate the school’s increasing pupil numbers. Now completed, the Modulek building provides an eco-friendly, modern and spacious environment for the children to work in.

The new construction has energy efficient lighting, an airflow system that ensures comfortable distribution of heating and cooling and high performance insulation to reduce energy costs. As many materials as possible have a sustainable source and the external walls are clad in natural wood panelling. At the construction stage, building methods ensured a reduced environmental impact with much of the work taking place in the factory to reduce traffic in and out of the school site and to minimise the impact on the local environment.

Before the opening ceremony, Mr Dean told the audience of Year 5&6 pupils that the building’s strong eco credentials were well aligned with Reigate St Mary’s ethos and emphasis on Education for Social Responsibility. Mrs Dawes, who combines her role as CEO of Stripy Stork with that of Deputy Lieutenant for Surrey, then cut the ribbon to officially open the building which is now called Beech Lodge. The ceremony was also attended by Reigate St Mary's Headmaster, Marcus Culverwell, Reigate Grammar Headmaster, Shaun Fenton, Reigate Grammar Bursar, Steve Douty, Reigate Grammar Director of Finance and Deputy Bursar, Helena Briggs, Reigate St Mary's Operations Manager, Roisin Gibbs and Reigate Grammar Parent Ambassador, Jane Wood.

Reigate St Mary's Headmaster, Marcus Culverwell said ‘The new building is a fantastic addition to our facilities. The classrooms are bright and airy and the Year 5&6 children are delighted to be moving in. It was important to the school that the building utilised the best of modern methods to reduce its environmental impact and save energy in the future’.

Marcus Culverwell also heads up Education for Social Responsibility for the UK for the Independent Association of Prep Schools. Education for Social Responsibility is a curriculum that helps children to think about the core values that will lead to happy and fulfilled lives, within stable and caring communities while protecting the planet for the future. At the heart of it is a focus on the wellbeing of each of them individually, the wellbeing of teams they will work within and the wellbeing of the planet.