The Borough of Dartford and the surrounding area.
Posted: Saturday, January 30, 2010
by Jason Mankoo
http://www.dartfordontheweb.com
The borough of Dartford has a population of roughly 85,000 spread amongst almost 38,000 households. is currently one of the Government's targeted key growth zones within the Thames Gateway, with around 20,000 new homes and up to 50,000 new jobs planned over the next 25 years.
Dartford is situated on the North West borders of Kent, close to the borders of South East London and Essex. The borough is one of the most exciting and dynamic regions in the country.
The future for Dartford is similarly bright. Despite the plans to increase substantially in size there is an underlying commitment to quality of design, build and purpose. The Bridge development, just a few hundred metres from the Dartford Dojo, highlights the direction that is taking towards sustainability perfectly.
Dartford Grammar School exists for learning, and the exceptionally clear vision guiding its development recognises this central purpose. To fulfil it, the school continually improves the environment and resources for learning, and looks outward, sharing its facilities and expertise. The school is recognised nationally for being exceptional in its achievements, and in the forefront of educational developments. In 2009, it was of very few secondary schools in identified by the HM Chief Inspector as outstandingly successful in four successive Ofsted inspections. It is, however, by the quality of our students that we wish to be judged. When they leave, they take with them impressive academic qualifications, an understanding of the world in which they live, and the confidence to succeed in whatever they choose to do.
In 1994 the Governors of Dartford Grammar School were advised by Dartford Borough Council that they would be willing to contribute to the funding and community use of a new sports centre being built at the school. The contribution initially agreed was increased on the condition that the Governors provided the school's existing gymnasium as an arts centre, also to be shared with the community in order to reduce the deficiencies in leisure facilities identified in a report produced for the council by external consultants. At the time there were few or no facilities in the region that were available or suitable for use by local community arts groups, no dedicated live music venue, and no opportunities for local groups and organisations and individuals to develop and showcase their talents.
After lengthy negotiations between the Arts Council, architects and planers, a more ambitious scheme than originally envisaged was conceived to meet the shortfall in community arts facilities. With the assistance of Arts Council funding of 1.6m, the largest lottery award to any school based project, the ambitious and innovative scheme was started in 1998 and completed in March 2000. It was opened, with international publicity by HRH the Duke of Kent with Mick Jagger.
At that time the centre comprised a large and small hall capable of seating total, both fully equipped with the latest sound and lighting facilities, a professional recording studio and rehearsal rooms, with a large foyer and bar/kitchen as well as a separate box office.
In 2004 the centre was further extended by the addition of a Music Technology suite and store room, a visual arts suite, a dance/drama room and two further teaching and rehearsal areas. This extension was opened by the Minister for the Arts, Estelle Morris.
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