The Mary Hare Foundation are seeking funding for a new energy-saving, year-round heating and cooling system for the classrooms and auditorium in Arlington Arts Centre. Our current air conditioning system is no longer fit for purpose.

Arlington Arts provides pupils at Mary Hare School with learning and performance spaces throughout the school day, along with the opportunity to perform on the stage. However, the noise of the current extractor fan is being amplified by the pupils’ hearing aids, meaning we need to switch it off during the school day. Therefore by the evening, the auditorium has become uncomfortably hot.

Mary Hare has a thriving music and performing arts department, based in the Arlington Arts Centre. Each year group has their own school band, who practise after school, perform at community events and for the school productions. All pupils from Years 7 to 9 have music lessons, while in Years 10 and 11 it is a popular GSCE option. We are proud to have above the national average percentage of pupils studying music at Key Stage 4. As well as experience performing on a stage, Arlington gives our A Level students back stage experience in tech and stage management using professional kit.

Our performing arts department is experienced in creating the optimum conditions for deaf pupils to engage in music. This includes working out what each pupil’s residual hearing allows them to hear best, and isolating sound sources in the room. Our pupils need the balance of music, instruments and sound to be mixed as effectively as possible for their music practice, rehearsals and performances. This approach is currently being severely undermined by the sound of the extractor fan, which pupils have described as being similar to the sound of a helicopter.

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