Behind the Blueprints: Progress on Our New Sixth Form Centre

In this episode of the Cheltenham Ladies’ College Podcast, Head of Property Services Matt Peplow and Rachel Shotliff, Senior Architect at Purcell, share exciting behind-the-scenes updates on our world-leading Sixth Form Centre, set to open in Autumn 2026.Matt outlines the vision for the centre, while Rachel reflects on Purcell’s journey to securing the project and the collaborative work completed so far, including a visioning workshop Purcell held with pupils and staff to understand the priorities and aspirations of the CLC community through a series of creative exercises.Drawing on Purcell’s expertise in heritage and preservation architecture, Rachel also explains how the team is committed to preserving the character of the three-storey Victorian building while translating CLC’s educational vision for the space into a modern, functional design. She also shares insights into the practical planning, design considerations, and technical challenges involved in bringing the project to life.The music in this episode is composed and played by Guild member Toru Obunge. Podcast hosted by Lucy Bevan, Digital Communications Officer.