School Development

As an OFSTED Outstanding School, The Crypt has a strong reputation for academic excellence.  As a high-performing school, we are expected to offer facilities and activities far beyond the academic curriculum.

Yet, despite being an outstanding school offering an education that outperforms many neighbouring schools (both state and independent), we operate under significant budgetary restrictions. The Crypt is not, and never has been, a wealthy school, and we are frequently vulnerable to fluctuations in government funding.

The school has been extremely fortunate in the past decade to have received significant capital investment that has improved the school estate immensely, and we appreciate the significant contributions of everyone involved in these improvements. However, there is still much work ahead. We are committed to ambitious plans for further estate developments to establish an environment that sets the standard for 21st-century teaching, learning and student personal development and wellbeing.

Priorities 2025-2028

The Creative & Performing Arts Centre (CPAC)

At The Crypt School, we believe that every young person has creativity within them. What determines whether that creativity flourishes is not talent alone — it is opportunity.

The challenge

Our students rehearse in crowded rooms. They perform in spaces never designed for performance. Yet, staff achieve extraordinary outcomes with limited and restricted resources.

Across Gloucester more broadly, many young people have little or no access to high-quality creative spaces or cultural activities at all.

The vision

In June, we launched a major fundraising campaign to develop and build a brand new Creative and Performing Arts Centre for both our students and for our community. It will include a professional rehearsal, performance and recording space supported by additional classrooms for the creative subjects. This will be a place where creativity is visible, valued, nurtured and shared.

Why does it matter?

Creativity builds confidence, communication and resilience. These are the skills young people need to thrive in education, employment and life. These are the skills that employers are calling out for. 

Community impact

The centre will be open beyond the school day and will be available to community groups, partner schools and visiting creative groups.

It will act as a cultural anchor for Gloucester — raising aspirations, strengthening pathways and bringing people together.

How can I support the Creative and Performing Arts Centre?

Our new centre, at the heart of the school and shared with our Podsmead and City communities, will cost around £6m to complete and equip. We are now actively and ambitiously fundraising to get the project underway. 

We welcome and rely on your support to help us achieve this initiative. There are ample and diverse opportunities to expedite our progress, including naming and recognition, gifts-in-kind, sponsorship, corporate giving, personal donations, and donations of vital equipment. If you would like to discuss supporting any aspect of the project, we would be delighted to talk to you.

Please get in touch to find out more:  

Sarah Veal, Development Manager 

sveal@crypt.gloucs.sch.uk

01452 530291.