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6
Mr. Frank H. Heaven, A.R.I.B.A., Architect to the Education
Committee, contributes the following : —
Amenities.—Many such have been provided, as curtains to staff
rooms, mirrors and soap dispensers in staff and scholars' cloakrooms,
indicator lights to outside lavatories, call and fire bells, fire equipment,
wire guards to windows where there is an element of danger from
breaking glass, barriers to entrance gates in dangerous roads, built-in
cupboards, exhibition panels, shelves, wall boards, sand trays and
pits, and the sanding and sealing of hall floors where they are used
for school meals.
Central Kitchens.—These have been maintained, and additional
equipment provided to meet increased demands, and all five have
been re-decorated inside and one on the outside.
New lavatory accommodation for female staff has been provided
at one kitchen.
Craft Rooms.—External fluorescent lighting has been fitted at
one Youth Centre. Heating and lighting systems have been
improved, particularly in craft rooms.
Gymnasia.—Equipment of a special nature has been provided
at one Infants' School, and additional equipment at secondary
schools.
Heating.—Heating arrangements have been maintained and new
boilers installed as required. Extensions have been effected at three
schools. Space heaters operated by electricity, gas and solid fuel
have been installed in nine cases where the existing service has been
found inadequate.
Lighting.—Artificial lighting, chiefly of the fluorescent type,
has been installed at eight schools, in class, craft and staff rooms,
and certain rooms used by partially sighted scholars.
Maintenance.—All educational properties have been kept in a
good standard of repair, within the limits of approved expenditure.
Yearly vacuum cleaning of recently decorated schools is now a
policy, adopted to remove accumulated dust and dirt, and so preserve
the premises in a clean condition for a much longer period between
decorations.
New Buildings.—Two new blocks containing classrooms, cloakrooms
and laboratories for chemistry or physics have been erected
and put into use at the S.W. Essex Technical School (Hoe Street
Branch).
Playfields.—These are maintained by direct labour, except
special works, such as re-turfing lawns, etc., which is carried out
by contract.
Enclosures have now been renewed to three tennis courts. Trees
have been lopped, felled where dangerous, and new replanted at
two playfields. Two Open-Air Theatres have been reconditioned,
and schemes prepared for the provision of changing and lavatory
accommodation, showers, etc., for both sexes at two playfields.