A new £48 million Dumfries High School

HUB South West Scotland will work with Morgan Sindall and Dumfries and Galloway Council to deliver the new £48 million Dumfries High School after plans for the new education facility were approved.

Part of the Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP), the school will accommodate over 900 pupils, with the build taking place on the existing site.

hub South West has appointed Morgan Sindall Construction as construction partner with Ryder Architecture leading the design. Turner & Townsend have been appointed to deliver full cost management, project management and principal designer services for the project and Woolgar Hunter will lead on civil and structural engineering elements.

The campus will include a 3G pitch with viewing terrace, science and wellbeing gardens and parking spaces. The school will also include new sports accommodation to replace the existing David Keswick Athletics Centre.

The school is expected to be completed by summer 2025.

Michael Ross, chief executive at hub South West Scotland, said, “

This is a fantastic milestone and we are excited to start the development of this major school project with our partners. With the combined skills of our highly experienced team, we’re confident we will deliver this fantastic new education environment for Dumfries, offering outstanding learning and social opportunities for pupils and wider communities.

“Throughout this project, we are committed to bring wealth and social value back to the local community, including new jobs, apprenticeships, training opportunities and support for local businesses.”

Stuart Parker, MD at Morgan Sindall Construction Scotland, added,

“We’re looking forward to collaborating with Dumfries & Galloway Council and hub South West Scotland as the delivery partner for the new, state-of-the-art Dumfries High School. This project is a great showcase for the council’s commitment to creating best-in-class educational facilities that will really benefit Dumfries’ community and support its young people for generations to come.

“We’ll bring our extensive expertise in constructing high-quality teaching & learning environments and working closely with hub South West Scotland and the council to generate additional social value and provide benefits for businesses and social enterprises in Dumfries along the way.”

Source: Project Scotland

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Westminster, we have a (£11 billion) problem

It’s time to get over the fixation on what teachers are doing and fix the buildings in which they’re doing it, says Mark Wilson

 

In Instruction to Deliver: Fighting to Transform Britain’s Public Services, Sir Michael Barber wrote that the quality of an education system cannot exceed the quality of its infrastructure. I agree.

A recent report from the National Audit Office revealed the astonishing (and shameful) fact that 700,000 of our children are attending schools requiring major repairs that are not fit for purpose. The same report identified that government does not have sufficient information to manage the ‘critical’ risks to the safety of pupils and staff from learning and working in these buildings.

What on Earth are we saying to our children and education professionals if we expect them to spend their days in schools that are quite literally falling down around their ears and exposing them to safety risks?

The English school system’s thirty-plus year, downstream, what’s-happening-in-the-classroom obsession has been a key contributor to what is now an £11.6 billion funding gap in meeting school building condition needs – despite education spending accounting for approximately 5 per cent of GDP.

Investment in crucial public assets has been systematically deprioritised in favour of short-term, frontline fixes. At the current rate of new school building, a full refresh of the school estate in England will take over 400 years. Even the new schools that are being built have a lifespan of 60 years. I do not have to point out that the numbers don’t add up.

In May 2022, I personally wrote to the chancellor of the exchequer, sharing my experiences as a MAT leader. I emphasised chronic under-investment, neglected maintenance, health and safety issues and dangerous practices I had witnessed across various local authority areas. This is not a localised problem; it is a national crisis that demands urgent attention.

To tackle this issue, we must re-evaluate how we measure school effectiveness and the role of strategic authorities responsible for schools. Every school administration should have a comprehensive, costed and committed investment plan prioritising the maintenance and improvement of the infrastructure they are entrusted to uphold.

We must shift attention to ensuring that public-realm infrastructure receives the attention and funding it deserves. Achieving this shift will require support and a fundamental overhaul of the current accountability framework. We must ask ourselves when the condition of our school estate becomes a matter of sufficient concern to trigger decisive action.

We must in parallel explore solutions to address the infrastructure funding gap. Developers have long advocated for the construction of new schools, gifting them to the nation as part of their new-build programmes. There is currently no legislative mechanism to facilitate such transactions, leading to the rejection of hundreds of millions of pounds that could have contributed to resolving our £11.6-billion problem.

It is also time to reconsider the role of private finance initiatives (PFI) in financing school buildings. While repayment costs and perceived inefficiencies tarnished their reputation, PFI projects initially garnered enthusiasm. They could again if it was pointed out that PFI-funded schools boast well-maintained facilities that remain fit for purpose while non-PFI schools from the same era have suffered twenty-five years of under-prioritisation, contributing significantly to the ever-widening infrastructure gap.

While there are legitimate concerns regarding the costs associated with PFI, these challenges can be mitigated through long-term planning and a comprehensive understanding of budgetary considerations. PFI may have been an expensive way to fund new schools, but the argument that PFI-funded schools have not been able to provide sufficient resources to the frontline just doesn’t stack. PFI is not the bogeyman it has been made out to be.

All young people deserve to learn in a safe and weather-tight school building. An £11.6 billion shortfall in infrastructure needs means that we cannot afford to dismiss any potential solutions. This investment is not just in bricks and mortar but in the future of our society and the wellbeing of generations to come.

We need bold action to create an educational landscape that is more than just safe – one that truly supports the growth and success of all our children. And to deliver that, politicians must start looking upstream for the fixes.

Source: Schools Week

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Student Accommodation Urged to Guard Against Legionella

WaterSafe, the national register of approved plumbers and water contractors, is reminding student accommodation providers to assess the risk of legionella in their property’s water supply, as they prepare to reopen their doors to students.

Under the Health and Safety at Work act, property managers have a legal duty to assess the risk of exposure to legionella bacteria and take preventative action.

Larger buildings, such as student halls of residence, should also have a water safety plan in place to prevent against any bacteria or potential contaminants.

In addition to mandatory risk assessments, WaterSafe recommends landlords and facilities managers follow five simple steps to help prevent their tenants falling ill from Legionnaire’s disease, the illness associated with the bacteria.

  1. Make sure boilers are set to store hot water at 60 degrees Celsius
  2. Flush out the system prior to letting your property. Systematically run the hot and cold water taps throughout the building, with any fittings removed, not forgetting to include the garden hose
  3. Avoid debris getting into the system by making sure cold water tanks have tight fitting lids
  4. Use a WaterSafe approved plumber for any work to internal plumbing or water supply pipes (they have specific training in the water fittings regulations and byelaws) and ask them to remove any redundant pipework; stagnant water in pipework will encourage bacteria to grow
  5. Only use compliant fittings and water products, approved by bodies such as the Water Regulations Advice Service (WRAS), KIWA or NSF.

Kevin Wellman, Director at WaterSafe said:

“While contracting Legionnaires’ disease is thankfully rare, it can present serious health risks and is easily prevented by following our five top tips.

“Data from the Drinking Water Inspectorate shows that more than 99.97 per cent of drinking water supplied to homes and businesses is free from bacteria and other harmful substances, but we all have a part to play in keeping it that way.

“Legionella can build up when properties are out of use for several weeks or months, so the start of the academic year is the perfect time to give your property a legionella MOT to keep students safe from harm.”

 

Legionella thrives in warm, stagnant, water so levels are likely to be higher at the start of the year if little to no water has been used over the warm summer months when student accommodation is empty.

Legionnaires’ disease is contracted by inhaling droplets of water, such as the spray from a shower, hose, or tap – rather than drinking the water itself. Although rate, it can cause serious illness or death, particularly in the elderly or those with health conditions.

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RAAC, More Questions than Answers

Top Department for Education bosses were quizzed about the government’s response to the RAAC crisis yesterday revealing a lack of communication.

 

1. Planned rebuilds won’t be bumped, but might be delayed

The RAAC crisis has prompted fears that some of the 400 confirmed projects in the current school rebuilding programme could be bumped.

But DfE permanent secretary Acland-Hood insisted today the government “will not be taking named schools out of the schools rebuilding programme”.

“So if a school is one of the 400 that has been named it will be rebuilt under the programme.”

However, she said it was “possible that we might need to look at timing and phasing, but we will seek not to interfere with timescales already given in detail”.

She expected “we will be prioritising RAAC schools for the remaining 100 slots in the programme”.

2. Rebuilding scheme could expand

Keegan has pledged to rebuild all schools “that need it” as a result of RAAC and chancellor Jeremy Hunt has said he will “spend what it takes”.

Acland-Hood said today the chancellor’s “commitment that he will also make sure that longer-term work can be funded means I would expect that we would be looking at an increase…we could be looking at an increase in the numbers of schools coming through the school rebuilding programme”.

The current rebuilding programme aims to rebuild 50 schools a year, but Jane Cunliffe, chief operating officer of the DfE’s operations and infrastructure group, said she was “confident that we have got the capacity to do more than that through our supply chain” if needed.

3. DfE will check reserves of schools asking for revenue help

After several days of ambiguity, the DfE finally confirmed last week that it will help schools to meet “reasonable” revenue costs such as renting alternative sites and bussing pupils elsewhere.

Today, Acland-Hood confirmed that as part of this, there would be a “stage of checking that the expenditure is properly related to [RAAC], that it’s reasonable and so on and that the school doesn’t have a very very high level of reserve. But we’re setting the most generous bar we can on that.”

She said her department would “err on the side of generosity and our assumption is that we will meet all reasonable costs”.

4. ‘Intrusive’ surveys ruled out due to time constraints

The surveys the DfE is conducting at schools with suspected RAAC are visual only, but Acland-Hood revealed today that “intrusive” surveys were considered, but ruled out.

They would involve drilling into RAAC, which means taking spaces “out of use” and propping them.

“It would have massively extended the length of time it would have taken to identify RAAC across the whole of the school estate.

“One of the things that we could see was in order to mitigate, it would have been roughly as disruptive as doing the mitigation. So we thought we’d go for the mitigation.”

5. Wait for updated school numbers, MPs told

Last week, the DfE published a list of 147 schools currently affected by RAAC. But it was a week out-of-date. Officials plan to update the list fortnightly, and are keeping quiet about numbers in between official publications.

Acland-Hood said the DfE was trying to give new information to schools first to give them time to manage the situation before being named.

“We want to be really transparent and really clear about this but we also want to manage it really sensibly for the schools.”

6. ‘Hundreds’ of questionnaires outstanding

Cunliffe revealed today that 98 per cent of schools have now completed the DfE’s questionnaire on the presence of RAAC, up from 95 per cent last week.

But that still leaves a “few hundred” that have not submitted theirs. MPs were told the DfE was chasing schools that are yet to respond.

The civil servants also revealed today they would be checking the accuracy of responses from schools.

7. Officials won’t say how many schools still need survey

Acland-Hood and Cunliffe were asked repeatedly how many schools are still awaiting surveys, but would not answer.

They said contractors working for the department had now conducted over 600 and were doing “several hundred a week”.

They also revealed some schools had needed to be re-surveyed, some because of access issues during the first survey, and others because of the presence of asbestos.

MPs reported that their schools had received conflicting information from the government.

“We’re clearly not getting communication of this right, so let me take that away,” said Acland-Hood.

8. No data on temporary classrooms

MPs also asked how many temporary classrooms had so far been provided to schools.

Cunliffe said she didn’t “have the number with me today”.

Acland-Hood said she would write with figures for those already supplied, but said the number “will be small”, in part because some schools have been able to make it work without them.

She added that the target timeframe for supplying buildings to schools was two weeks, given they needed a foundation, utilities and often planning permission.

9. Top DfE boss defends Keegan’s hot mic jibe

Education secretary Gillian Keegan has been widely criticised after a “hot mic” incident last week, in which she said others had “sat on their arses”.

But Acland-Hood defended the education secretary, who she said had been “generous I think in recognising work done in the department”.

“I don’t think she did intend to suggest that others haven’t been working hard.”

10. Few free schools didn’t have site surveys

The Observer reported yesterday that the government failed to carry out detailed surveys for potential hazards like RAAC and asbestos for some free school sites.

Pressed on the revelations today, Cunliffe said that “obviously the majority of free school sites are surveyed”, but added: “I think there were some where surveys were difficult to do before the site was purchased.

“I can write with details. I think it’s a very very small number of sites.”

Acland-Hood defended the government’s focus on opening free schools over the past decade.

“We always try to keep the right balance between funding we spend on new places and on maintenance and refurbishment, and I think it’s right that that balance changes over time.”

 

Source: Schools Week

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RAAC Boosts Education Construction Sector

Spending on Infrastructure fell back 39% in August, whilst education sees a boost in the wake of recent scandals

  • Infrastructure spending fell back 39% in August and saw a 55% fall in planning approvals
  • Construction spending related to schools provides some good news following RAAC crisis
  • Extreme weakness continues in the residential sector in planning applications
  • Prospects remain muted for second half of 2023

Spending on UK infrastructure fell back 39% to £1.2bn in August after July’s £2.0bn, although contract awards overall remained relatively healthy for the second month in a row with £6.3bn according to Barbour ABI’s latest analysis. And the bad news for infrastructure looks set to continue with a commensurate 55% drop in approvals in August.

Meanwhile, the education sector saw some positives in the wake of recent chaos around RAAC repairs.

Barbour ABI Chief Economist Tom Hall commented: “All eyes are on the education sector following the scandal around crumbling concrete in schools. It may, therefore, come as a small positive for those affected that spending in the form of new project contracts increased 34% to £700m in August, driven largely by secondary school redevelopments. Approvals were also positive, with projects worth £500m moving through the pipeline and £400m of project applications in July.”

August also saw a continuation of higher spending levels for the commercial sector with £1.0bn in contracts awarded thanks to several large mixed-use projects in London and a positive month for healthcare with £300m.

Hotel and leisure appeared to be slowly returning to normal levels post-Covid but remains dependent on small numbers of larger projects.

The planning pipeline remains mixed.

Planning approvals continued a mini-resurgence with £8.9bn worth of projects in August. This was the third month of higher activity after a slump in the new financial year. The recovery has been driven by recoveries in the residential, infrastructure and industrial sectors, and a strong Q3 result is all but certain.

However, there was still no good news for planning applications, with continuing low activity since the beginning of the year pointing to a challenging future for the industry as the pipeline dries out. In particular, extreme weakness in the residential sector remained clear, with just £3.3bn of new applications in the latest monthly figures.

“In the wider construction environment, confirmed activity remains very uncertain, and prospects remain muted for the second half of 2023.” Concluded Hall.

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A sustainable solution for the future of UK schools

More than 100 schools in England are grappling with an urgent problem due to structural concerns, following the dramatic closure of buildings constructed with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). But while this situation presents a significant challenge, it also offers a unique opportunity for the Government and the construction industry to reevaluate their approach to building sustainability and safety, by using low-carbon alternatives that can revolutionise the way we construct our schools and other vital structures writes Tony Sheridan, Group Commercial Director for Cemfree.

When the government ordered the closure of these schools just days before the autumn term was set to begin, educators, parents, and students found themselves in a state of flux. Alternative learning solutions, including remote learning and temporary classrooms, became the immediate response to the crisis sparking concerns and criticism.

While this is an understandable reaction, at the heart of this issue lies the critical importance of responsible design and the correct choice of appropriate construction materials. It underscores the significance of using the right product in the right place and keeping design at the forefront of construction decisions.

A crucial consideration should have been the acceptable design life of the structures. If these buildings were originally designed for a 30-year lifespan, it was unrealistic to expect them to last 50 years without issues. If lessons are to be learned we must be mindful of these factors during future design phases and avoid overstretching the longevity of our structures.

Another factor to consider as we contemplate rebuilding these educational institutions, is a pressing environmental concern – embodied carbon. The concrete originally used in these structures, and the replacement materials chosen, play a pivotal role in determining their environmental footprints and this is where products such as Alkali-Activated Cementitious Materials (AACMs) can make a huge difference.

The issue of embodied carbon, which refers to the total carbon emissions associated with a building material’s production, transportation, and installation, cannot be overlooked. When considering replacement materials, it’s imperative to assess the environmental impact.

Perhaps then it is an opportunity to look at innovative alternatives like AACM’s, which are readily available and have been tested following rigorous research and development programmes? While concrete is undeniably an excellent construction material, its traditional usage has been heavily cement-dependent, contributing to a colossal carbon footprint – 850kgs per tonne as stated by MPA.

However, AACMs such as Cemfree are revolutionising the construction landscape, allowing designers to maintain the integrity of concrete while slashing its carbon footprint by up to 85% compared to Portland Cement (PC). Embracing AACMs like Cemfree could catalyse a paradigm shift in the construction of critical structures like schools and hospitals, ushering in a sustainable future.

At Cemfree we are committed to ensuring that our products are specified and used correctly, ensuring structural integrity and safety. We work closely with architects, specifiers, contractors, and other stakeholders to guide them through the process from start to finish. Our rigorous approach ensures that Cemfree is not only chosen but also applied appropriately, maximising its environmental benefits.

The path to creating safe, ultra-low carbon buildings lies in collaboration. Clients, specifiers, contractors, and material providers must work together to design and construct sustainable structures that are both environmentally friendly and structurally sound. This collaborative effort should span the entire construction process, from initial design to final implementation.

The situation with schools in England serves as a pivotal moment, highlighting the importance of responsible design, sustainability, and material selection in construction projects. It offers us a choice – to rebuild with materials that are both resilient and environmentally conscious or continue to use very carbon intensive materials. Could this be the catalyst for a transformation in our commitment to constructing safer, greener, and more sustainable educational spaces for generations to come?

As we rebuild our schools, let’s not just reconstruct buildings but also reshape the future. The opportunity for change is now, and together, we can pave the way towards a more sustainable tomorrow for our schools and beyond.

 

www.cemfree.com

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Brand New School for the New School Year

A Shropshire building contractor has officially handed over the keys to a newly constructed primary school as it prepares to welcome its first pupils next month.

SJ Roberts Construction which, in partnership with its sister company SJ Roberts Homes, is delivering the new, award-winning, community at Allscott Meads between Shrewsbury and Telford, handed the keys over to representatives of the school and its sponsors, the Learning Community Trust at a ceremony yesterday.

Allscott Primary School offers capacity for up to 150 pupils, across six classrooms, and additionally offers a sports hall, kitchen, staff room, offices, storage rooms and various other rooms for one-to-one teaching, support and interviews.   It boasts a 1.1-acre sports field, hard-surfaced sports court, 40 bike parking spaces, and car parking for staff and visitors.  There are plans in place to also offer nursery provision to the growing local community.

Commenting on the completion of the school, Mike Sambrook, MD at SJ Roberts Construction, said:

Jane Hughes from Learning Community Trust, and Mike Sambrook from SJ Roberts Construction

“The vision for Allscott Meads, following the demise of the sugar beet factory that once stood on this site, was to create a vibrant community that appeals to a wide demographic. A school was always central to our vision, and we’re delighted to have successfully delivered that.

“It is a stunning building which offers a modern, light and colourful environment in which the children will learn.  Whilst our work on site is now complete, our ongoing work at Allscott Meads means we’ll continue to work closely with the school community to provide additional learning opportunities for the pupils.”

 

Speaking on behalf of the Learning Community Trust, CEO, Jane Hughes, added:

“Having worked closely with the SJ Roberts team throughout the construction of this new school, it’s fantastic to now see it standing resplendent alongside the village green.  In just a few weeks, we’ll welcome the first pupils and we’re all looking forward to seeing their reaction to such a fabulous learning space.”

 

An ‘official opening’ ceremony involving local dignitaries will take place at Allscott Primary School in early September.

Cllr Eileen Callear (Lab), Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Visitor Economy concluded:

“The opening of a new primary school in Allscott is an exciting project our council has driven, as part of our commitment to provide more school places and great learning opportunities closer to home for more pupils in our borough.

“We are looking forward to the opening of the Allscott Meads Primary School this September.”

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Caledonian Built Schools Forced to Close due to Safety Fears

Haygrove School, one of the three forced to close

Three schools built by the same failed construction company have been ordered to close almost-new buildings by the government due to safety fears, potentially delaying the start of term for their pupils.

Sir Frederick Gibberd College, a free school in Harlow, Essex, was told to close its main building and sports hall site with “immediate effect” on Sunday after Department for Education-commissioned technical reports found “various serious issues”.

Haygrove School, a converter academy in Bridgwater, Somerset, has now also announced it has been told to close its main building, following technical investigations “over the past few weeks”.

After publication, the Department for Education informed Schools Week that Buckton Fields Primary School in Northampton had also been advised not to reopen due to “structural irregularities”.

Contracts worth £38 million for the Sir Frederick Gibberd and Haygrove buildings were awarded to Caledonian Modular in 2019 under the DfE’s £3 billion “modern methods of construction” framework.

The department touted the framework as the “next step in the evolution of offsite construction of school buildings”.

Under its contract, Caledonian Modular – which went into administration in March 2022 – led design, planning and installation of the schools.

Following its collapse, two schools it had been contracted to build in Cornwall were demolished before construction was completed.

A DfE spokesperson said surveys conducted at its request had “identified concerns with building work carried out by a specific contractor that is no longer in business”.

“The department is working closely with school leaders and the relevant local authorities to make sure pupils and parents are informed and appropriate temporary measures are put in place to accommodate pupils safely and protect their education.”

Caledonian Modular is known to have been involved in the construction of buildings at at least 15 state schools.

Schools Week asked the department if any other schools could be impacted, but it is yet to respond.

Closed buildings will likely delay pupils’ return

Closures at Sir Frederick Gibberd and Haygrove are likely to cause disruption to parents and pupils.

In a letter to parents, Helena Mills, the CEO of BMAT Education, which runs Sir Frederick Gibberd, said pupils would likely be able to return to school by September 18.

Although “interim arrangements” are being put in place to ensure remote and in-person teaching for pupils, it means a potential delay of nearly two weeks to the normal start of term.

“BMAT Education was not involved in the commissioning, designing, construction, or quality assurance of these buildings and the DfE are taking full responsibility for resolving the situation,” Mills said.

In her letter, she said students would move into “temporary facilities” at the school, which was built in 2019, when they return.

BMAT runs four of the seven secondary schools in Harlow. The trust would not comment on whether some pupils would be moved.

Vic Goddard, principal at the neighbouring Passmores Academy, told Schools Week it had already received five applications from parents of year 7 pupils due to start at Sir Frederick Gibberd.

While his school is already at capacity for next term, Passmores has offered to lend facilities such as science labs to the school.

Essex County Council, which is working with the DfE and school to put temporary arrangements in place, said all parents and carers would be updated “before the term starts”.

School ‘urgently’ seeking information from DfE

Haygrove also told parents the closure may cause a delay to the start of term.

“The DfE has promised us that it will be providing high-quality temporary accommodation on the school site as soon as possible,” a letter sent on Friday stated.

“However, we do not yet know when this will be delivered and are seeking urgent clarification from the DfE.”

It said staff were “working swiftly” to make “any necessary adaptations” to its curriculum, support for students with SEND and transition arrangements for incoming year 7 students and GCSE results day.

The school added that the DfE had overall responsibility for the main building, which was completed in October 2020.

The newly-built Newquay Primary Academy and Launceston Primary Schools in Cornwall were demolished in April and May this year, respectively.

At the time, the DfE was reported as saying: “The main contractor originally appointed by DfE unexpectedly went into administration in March 2022, leaving several construction issues that do not comply with the DfE’s strict construction standards.”

Quantock Education Trust, which runs Haygrove, said it would be able to confirm details once it had further information from the DfE.

Buckton Fields Primary School was contacted for comment.

Alvarez & Marsal, which was appointed as administrators for Caledonian Modular, and JRL Group, which purchased its fixed assets, were also contacted.

“We read the sad news about the four schools but these projects have no connection with the JRL Group,” the latter said in a statement.

 

Source: Schools Week

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School Extension will ‘Benefit Generations to Come”

Milestone for £6.6m works to extend Nuneaton school to ‘benefit generations to come’

A milestone has been reached in the £6.6m project to extend a cramped Nuneaton secondary school for ‘generations to come’. Works to extend Etone College started back in the spring and now, as the summer holidays are underway, the construction has hit an important mark.

Its old 1950s block will ultimately be demolished once the extension, which will boast 23 modern new classroom, is complete.

Its old 1950s block will ultimately be demolished once the extension, which will boast 23 modern new classroom, is complete. An update has been issued by Alcema Ltd, which is behind the construction works .

“The foundations are in, and the ground laid, ready for the structure to start appearing during the summer recess,” the firm said. Once the new school year starts students and staff will be able to check on its progress from a specially designed viewing platform.

Paul Reeve, Alcema’s project director said: “It is wonderful to be working with a energised team at Etone College, collaborating on ideas to encourage students to be inspired by this project with potential futures in the construction industry, and to deliver this beautiful facility that will benefit generations to come.”

Once built, the two storey teaching block will boast the new classrooms, a balcony area with a roof top plant area. There will also be a lift, toilets and new teaching areas. Warwickshire County Council has put £4.6 million towards the works with the remaining £2 million covered by the school’s reserves.

Source: Coventry Telegraph

 

 

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Unsafe Building Disrupts School Term Start

A school has announced the start of term may be disrupted as its main building is unsafe.

Haygrove School and Quantock Education Trust have been engaging with the Department for Education (DfE) over the past 12 months to ensure our main school building is fully fit for purpose and of the quality our students and staff deserve. The DfE has overall responsibility for the main building, which was completed in October 2020, and has undertaken technical investigations over the past few weeks to determine its long-term viability.

Since first occupied the main building, was assured by the DfE that it was safe for students and staff. However, they were informed last week that the DfE has decided, following its surveys, that they are not able to use the main school building until further notice. This means they are in need of alternative arrangements for the new school term in September. The DfE has promised that it will be providing high-quality temporary accommodation on the school site as soon as possible. However it is no yet known when this will be delivered and the school is seeking urgent clarification from the DfE, a far from ideal situation for students and staff.

This may cause a delay to the start of term which will pose logistical challenges for some of the families who await further updates.

Once further information from the DfE, the situation will be confirmed and arrangements will be put in place for setting up provision in alternative accommodation, with  contingency plans for the start of term underway.

 

 

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