Report - Robert Bruce School - Bedford - Sept 22

[Bikin Glynn]

Robert Bruce School

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Kempston Senior Mixed School opened in Bedford Road in 1928, using the former Bedford Road Council Girls' School premises. The site was shared with Bedford Road Junior Mixed School. The idea was that children from elementary schools in a number of villages as well as from Kempston itself would transfer to this school at age eleven and attend until fourteen (the school leaving age had been raised from twelve by the Education Act 1918)

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On 1st April 2009 Bedfordshire County Council was abolished. Its functions in the north of the county were taken over by Bedford Borough Council. This was a district, or second tier, authority which was upgraded to a unitary council with both first and second tier responsibilities – a county and district council rolled into one. It this became Kempston’s local education authority.
Frank McMahon was head at Robert Bruce for 15 years retiring in 2005, and the school eventually closed 10 years later. However, a new school, the largest SEND facility in the country, is being built on its former site.

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Visited this one with @Kewipie & its fair to say we were a bit late to the party as it was pretty battered, still a pleasant explore & I have rather a lot of pics as usual.
Bizarrely & incredibly dangerously the power was still on in parts of this place

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[Bikin Glynn]

Continued

In professional Urbex style we entered here through the most awkward access possible to find doors open everywhere later!

Thats enough to bore anyone, have a great xmas!
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[Calamity Jane]

Surprised to see the instruments still there after all the traffic. I hope they have been rescued since if any were in good condition. Youth clubs crying out for donations like that. Nice coverage of the place. The hall shot is great.

 

[Bikin Glynn]

Surprised to see the instruments still there after all the traffic. I hope they have been rescued since if any were in good condition. Youth clubs crying out for donations like that. Nice coverage of the place. The hall shot is great.

Yh there was still some decent stuff tbh, lot of kids work too which u would of though they would of saved

 

[mookster]

I forgot I ever went here even though it was only last year, I can't remember a thing about it!

 

[Exploring With Pride 🌈]

When we passed it a few months ago we saw digger on site asumed it was being demolished

 

[Bikin Glynn]

I forgot I ever went here even though it was only last year, I can't remember a thing about it!

Well there's a reminder. To b fair it has everything u can expect if a school, I just wish I'd of got there a few months earlier

 

[Bikin Glynn]

When we passed it a few months ago we saw digger on site asumed it was being demolished

Yh they have started work on new senco school I believe

 

[GRONK]

In professional Urbex style we entered here through the most awkward access possible to find doors open everywhere later!

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Can't even begin to think how many times I've done that!

Great thread, you've captured it really well.

 

[Exploring With Pride 🌈]

Can't even begin to think how many times I've done that!

Great thread, you've captured it really well.

I did that yesterday somehow missed a window open lol

 

[The Young One]

Oh the best of us have done I squeezed under a fence only to find a open bloody gate 5 meters away
Also what's a send site?

 

[GRONK]

Also what's a send site?

'Special Educational Needs and Disability' I believe

 

[Patalayus]

Is this place still here? Seen some comments about demolishing it..

 

[Bikin Glynn]

Is this place still here? Seen some comments about demolishing it..

No idea, I know there are plans to demolish & build new school but don't know how far along they are

 

[OysterJam]

'Special Educational Needs and Disability' I believe

One of these is going to be permanently shutting down at the end of the current academic year in my city.

Might be a place worthy of checking out in the future.