British School Muscat campus set for a facelift, work starts next year

An artistic impression of the proposed expansion project.

Muscat: Phase one of a major redevelopment plan of the British School Muscat campus will begin in April 2015.

The first phase of the master plan will include 10 state-of-the-art science laboratories, a sports academy including two sports halls and a fitness suite, a larger sports field with spectator grandstand (elevated above the new parking for 200 vehicles) along with an aquatics centre with three swimming pools, a 240-seater dining hall and a sixth form centre. 

"These developments, which will progressively become available to the school from early 2016 and are due for completion by 2017, will go a long way in achieving the school's vision," said Chris Jones, campus committee chairman of BSM.
The ambitious plan to improve the campus was created in partnership with Jestico+Whiles, award winning education architects based in London, following a detailed consultation with the BSM community of pupils, parents and staff.  

The master plan for the development of their facilities in Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, was shared with representatives from the school's founder companies on Tuesday. 

"The plans will provide BSM with inspiring facilities in science, the performing arts and sports, enabling us to improve further the excellent teaching and learning already on offer and extend our diverse enrichment programme," said Kai Vacher, principal of the BSM.

The next phase will include a performing arts centre, a spacious auditorium and a community café. 

"The delivery of our master plan, which is fundamental to our strategy, will enable us to fully utilise our excellent location in the heart of Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, facilitating our growth as the leading international school in Muscat, providing outstanding facilities for the benefit of our pupils and the whole community. We are delighted that we will be providing tender opportunities to a number of Omani companies to assist British School Muscat with these developments," said Dominic Myers, chairman, Board of Governors.

British School Muscat, established in 1971, is one of the leading schools in the Middle East. 

It is a non-profit, co-educational British school which provides a comprehensive and well-balanced education to children of wide ranging abilities and nationalities aged 3 to 18. 

The school provides supportive environment for a student body of more than 60 nationalities.