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Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust optimistic one year on from RAAC crisis

With the autumn term underway, Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust, severely affected by the RAAC crisis in 2023, is embracing a positive future — providing inspiring learning environments for pupils and staff, investment and job creation in the region.

A year after the education sector was forced to close schools and relocate many classrooms, following the discovery of RAAC in a number of schools across the UK, the future looks bright for thousands of North East pupils and the wider communities.I

n September 2023 Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust (BWCET) introduced a series of innovative Estates strategies in the face of adversity, after it was told three of its schools required immediate closure.

Thanks to the continued commitment of management, staff, students, parents, the Department of Education and Local Councillors and MPs, two of those schools have reopened fully and the third — St Leonard’s Catholic School in Durham — is operating successfully from a new site, housing state-of-the-art temporary teaching spaces.

St Leonard’s, St Anne’s Catholic Primary School (Gateshead) and St Benet’s Catholic Primary School (Ouston) have all been added to the Schools Rebuilding Programme with timetables for work under constant review.

And BWCET has pledged to undertake an ambitious expansion programme at another of its schools initially affected by RAAC with St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon set to benefit from significant investment.

“Throughout the last 12 months we have done everything we can to provide the highest possible level of education to our pupils,” said Nick Hurn OBE, CEO of BWCET.

“It was important that we took an agile approach to the future as, for many months, the situation was unclear and we needed to constantly revise our strategies.

“Twelve months on and that ability to pivot stands our schools in good stead for the future.

“It’s been an extremely challenging period — and nobody could have foreseen what was going to happen — but I feel that we’re emerging stronger as a Trust and as a community.

“In the meantime we are continuing to work with the Department for Education to agree the design of the St Leonard’s project and the timeframe for its delivery.”

With the new school year underway it’s hoped that the lessons learned — and strategies put in place — as a result of the RAAC crisis will enable all four affected BWCET schools to tackle the future with renewed confidence.

Last month’s impressive GCSE and A Level results at St Leonard’s underlined the remarkable determination of students and staff to strive for success in the face of significant hurdles.

Ninety per cent of GCSE entries were awarded grades between 4 and 9 while 40 per cent of A Level entries were awarded A* or A grades.

It is also a testament to the resilience and motivation of staff, pupils and families, who worked tirelessly to protect the education of pupils, that both St Anne’s and St Benet’s have also managed to achieve excellent results this year.

“I have thanked our staff teams and families for their support throughout this past year directly,” added Nick.

BWCET’s robust response to a challenging period coincides with a £12m investment in a four-year minor works initiative.

The innovative scheme was designed to inform the regional contractor market about opportunities to work with the Trusts’s estate on minor works including general building, roofing, mechanical and electrical repairs. This was spearheaded by Educational Commercial Services, the commercial arm of BWCET.

Already the Trust has secured £1.2m in social value commitment, creating more than 270 employment and training opportunities.

“In spite of the enormous challenges we’ve faced, operating 48 schools across the North East and as one the Trusts most severely affected by RAAC, we’ve still been able to implement our minor works contracts initiative,” added Nick.

“The appointed providers will deliver almost 150 days of training opportunities to benefit students at the Trust’s schools, with more than 230 hours of learning interventions, working with subject departments to support the curriculum.

“Then there’s nearly 50 days of construction sector awareness training and 64 days of career guidance and mentorship programmes. This training provides students with invaluable transferable skills for their future pathways.

“After the year that we’ve had it’s important to focus on the positives and recognise the progress that’s been made.”

At St Leonard’s head teacher Chris Hammill echoes an overriding feeling of positivity moving forward.

Although the school’s temporary learning spaces have proved popular with staff and students alike, there is genuine excitement that a new building is expected to be completed by Easter 2026 — ahead of schedule.

“I feel really hopeful for the future,” he added. “Adversity brings strength.”

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Planning for schools development

Comment by Lucy Anderson, Associate Director, Boyer, part of Leaders Romans Group. 

The new Labour government’s intention to charge VAT on school fees is just one reason why independent schools are looking to make savings. Economising without impacting quality is not just necessary in view of this shock to school finances, it’s simply good business sense. 

Boyer works with several independent schools on an ongoing basis, in each case with the objective of using planning to support new initiatives. 

So, how can planning help? 

Creating a USP is central to many schools’ business strategies and certainly unique benefits enable schools to differentiate themselves from the intense competition. 

We’re increasingly seeing schools introducing new facilities which do exactly that. Post-Covid there has been a focus on supporting students’ physical and mental health. Dedicated facilities can support counselling, physiotherapy and more. Sensory gardens and conditioning suites can provide a competitive edge. 

Inevitably new (and many repurposed) facilities require planning permission, but Permitted Development Rights (PDR) provide a welcome alternative to submitting a planning application through the local authority and waiting a standard 8 or 13 weeks (but often more) for determination. 

The legislation surrounding PDR is often complex and can be hard to interpret, with several specific conditions and requirements which have to be adhered to. 

For schools and other educational estates, Schedule 2 Part 7 Class M of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) allows for certain extensions and alterations to be made to buildings, as long as the amendments meet a certain set of criteria and parameters. 

Schedule 2 Part 7 Class N also allows for the provision of a new hard surface (such as car parking spaces) to be provided within the curtilage of an existing school, college and university, although this can be limited to a relatively small area. 

However it is important to recognise that whilst the opportunities relating to schools under PDR are more limited than for other sectors, they can still be extremely beneficial from an operational perspective, particularly in terms of making more efficient use of external space. For instance, there are also opportunities through PDR to make temporary adjustments / erect temporary structures (i.e. they are required to be ‘moveable’) within a school which could support the use of outside spaces for external events.

However it is important to note that permitted development is only allowed in specific circumstances and is often time-limited. 

For example, a school recently considered the option to open its tennis courts and swimming pool to the public. To do so required additional floodlighting, but as the lights were temporary and limited to a specific height, this could be achieved through Permitted Development Rights (as opposed to a formal planning application), at comparatively little cost and time to the school.

Performance spaces are commonly hired out for external use, particularly during school holidays when they might be used for music or drama courses or festivals. The more flexible the space, the more opportunities it presents – and PDR can help to create this flexibility. 

Planning permission may be required for the changes to access and parking capacity which invariably come with changes to facilities, although it may be possible to achieve some flexibility through Permitted Development Rights. However, this applies in some circumstances but not all, so it’s always worth checking with a planning consultant. This is especially important if the site includes listed buildings or adjoins the setting of a heritage asset as many Permitted Development Rights cease to apply in relation to listed buildings. 

Although the changes described above can technically be exercised without obtaining formal planning permission, from a commercial standpoint there are also benefits of submitting an application to secure a Certificate of Lawful Development. The main benefit is that a Certificate of Lawful Development reduces the prospect of any enforcement action being taken by the Local Planning Authority, whilst also providing sufficient comfort that the structure is legally compliant with the relevant legislation – which is particularly important when it comes to any acquisitions or disposals of assets. 

In terms of the application process, although delays are commonplace throughout the planning system, the process of applying for a Certificate of Lawful Development has been streamlined recently. This means there are only a limited number of key considerations able to be taken into account and in line with government guidance, the statutory timescale for a decision is 8 weeks. 

At Boyer we have prepared, submitted and managed these types of applications for many clients, securing consent for Certificates of Lawful Development for their peace of mind. We’ve seen many times over what a great opportunity this presents in increasing revenue at very little expense. 

Our experience of schools seeking to create maximum value from their facilities is that flexibility is much more easily obtained if the schools have a good relationship with the Local Planning Authority. We seek to ensure that readily-available communication channels exist which enable open dialogue and can make a world of difference, especially when there is a clear correlation between the school’s business success and the impact on the local economy.

 

https://www.boyerplanning.co.uk/

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Invisible door automation opens historic Oxford College entrance

The Grade II listed dining hall at Pembroke College, Oxford University has undergone a significant upgrade. Architects Walters & Cohen, in collaboration with Glasstec, has addressed the issue of draughts from the hall’s heavy timber doors by installing an elegant yet highly functional, self-opening glazed entrance door. 

This creative solution incorporates a TORMAX iMotion 1401 concealed door drive, providing invisible automation for the swing door. The result is a warm, draught-free environment that enhances thermal comfort and energy efficiency without compromising the hall’s historic charm.

The new entrance door is a testament to the seamless integration of modern technology within a historic setting. The TORMAX iMotion 1401, located discreetly in a steel casing beneath the door, ensures that the aesthetic integrity of the Victorian stonework remains intact. 

“We are delighted with the successful installation of the new entrance door, which cleverly balances functionality and heritage conservation,” said Vanessa Gouws, Operations Bursar of Pembroke College. “This intervention has helped improve the energy efficiency of the dining hall, the second biggest fuel consumer in Pembroke’s estate, not to mention helping keep diners and dinners warm.”

TORMAX is a global leader in door automation systems, renowned for their innovative designs and commitment to quality.

Designed in-house at the TORMAX headquarters in Switzerland, the iMotion range of automatic door operators incorporate a motor with none of the elements that generally wear out, such as gears and brushes. This ensures exceptional longevity and demands only minimal ongoing maintenance, making it entirely feasible to situate the drive in a concealed location.

“In addition to the iMotion 1401 underfloor door drive, we offer the iMotion 1302.KI which is concealed within the door lintel,” comments Simon Roberts, MD for TORMAX UK. “Together, these options can deliver practical access solutions for almost any location where the traditional appearance of an entrance must be preserved.”

 

https://www.tormax.co.uk/

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Power up your projects with IronmongeryDirect

As educational facilities approach the end of the academic term, facilities managers and tradespeople may be looking ahead to the maintenance and repairs that are needed over the summer break. Leading specialist retailer IronmongeryDirect can streamline the procurement process, with everything from complete fire door kits to access control hardware, and electrical products – all in stock to suit a range of applications.

For washroom projects

The online supplier stocks a choice of DDA compliant, touch free hand dryer products from manufacturer, Everything Hand Dryers. This includes the compact, low energy and high-speed Hydra 9. Delivering 750W. T  , the small design of this product allows for perfect positioning in all washroom environments. Alternatively, the Vega 4 offers users with switchable heat, quiet mode and the option of intelligent H13 media filtration, for hygienically cleaner air.

For lighting updates

The high lumen Lightspan Linkable LED Battens from Integral LED are ideal for bright indoor task lighting and at up to 145lm/W, they offer significant energy savings compared to equivalent fluorescent fittings that have been phased out. Also, from Integral, the robust 15W Tough-Shell+ LED Bulkhead Light can be installed indoors and outdoors to provide a 110° beam angle and an even light distribution.

For managing health & safety

IronmongeryDirect has a vast range of products that help support a comprehensive health and safety strategy. For example, keep fingers safe from being trapped in doors with the easy to fit Exitex Digitex Front Finger Guard.    , and prevent accidents and improve security with the Jackloc range of window restrictors. 

For fire door maintenance and escape routes, IronmongeryDirect has an extensive range of quality solutions that includes over 1,500 fire rated products from trusted brands such as Briton, Arrone, Rutland and Dorgard. A best seller from the range is the CE marked overhead AR450 door closer. Suitable for use on interior doors up to 950mm with a 120-minute fire class rating, it’s power size 3 with adjustable closing and latch speeds to achieve the desired action depending on the application.

Kelly Wing, Senior Category & Direct Sourcing Manager at IronmongeryDirect said: “We understand the upkeep and maintenance of an educational estate can vary from quick fixes and repairs to more comprehensive installations and renovations and importantly, it needs to be completed within very limited timeframes so as not to disrupt students and teachers. “By choosing IronmongeryDirect, facilities and estate managers can source all the items from one supplier and get them delivered to their own schedule – even next day. Education specifiers and facilities managers can also make use of our ‘Trade Quote’ service for larger jobs to secure even more savings.”

IronmongeryDirect is a leading specialist supplier of ironmongery to the trade, with over 18,000 products in stock. All products are regularly reviewed to ensure customers are offered competitive prices, including bulk buy savings on over 12,000 products. Customers can choose from a range of flexible delivery options including next day delivery, 2-working day delivery, same day delivery to postcodes in selected areas of London and the East of England, as well as click and collect from 6,500 pick up points across the UK. Contact our award-winning customer service team for a project quote today on 0300 303 88 21 or email Quotes@IronmongeryDirect.com.

To find out more about IronmongeryDirect, please visit: www.IronmongeryDirect.co.uk.  

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For an efficient, space-saving solution, the only way is Upton

With challenges such as financial demands and space constraints being a key consideration for many heating and hot water projects in school buildings, compact modular condensing boilers such as the Upton boiler from Hamworthy are a game changer. This space-saving modular boiler can efficiently deliver more than 1MW output on less than 1m² footprint.

Packing power and efficiency into a small space

When specifying a heating system, the first consideration should, without doubt, be the required kW output needed.  However, once this is calculated, plant room size and access are equally as important.  For projects in older buildings, where demands might vary or may have increased over time, there may be a need to increase boilers or boiler size.  This could be an issue for plant rooms where space is already quite tight, particularly if it means the boiler and ancillaries simply won’t fit the existing space.   Similarly, when it comes to modern buildings, plant room space is like gold dust. 

Compared to large high-output boilers, Upton modular condensing boiler modules make the most of valuable space.  Available as single modules, and pre-assembled in two or three high modules in up to 18 combinations with power outputs from 100kW to 1,050kW from less than one square meter foot, Upton boilers offer a flexible solution that makes the most of existing floor space.  

Upton boilers can also be easily separated and moved without the assistance of heavy-duty cranes or other expensive equipment.  Smaller and physically easier to handle than larger single boilers, they can also help to overcome restrictions, such as tight stairways, narrow doorways, and overhead obstructions. 

Cost reduction and energy savings

Unlike a single appliance which may struggle to provide heat efficiently to a large area, Upton boilers feature reliable built-in boiler sequence controls, enabling up to 16 boiler modules and hot water circuits to be set to work together in cascade or unison formation.

This means modulation can be shared across all units in the system.  As each module takes a percentage of the load, this prevents the inefficiencies of on/off cycling and ensures each boiler module can operate at optimum efficiency, at all times.  For instance, an Upton setup of six 100kW boilers arranged in a cascade will provide the same output as a single 600kW unit – however, it will provide a greater modulation rate because there is a greater maximum collective output, meaning the modulation ratio is increased.  This means there’s less need for each boiler to cycle on and off, saving valuable energy costs and reducing wear and tear over time.  In addition, overall NOx emissions are reduced due to less over-firing of the appliance.

Also incorporating an aluminium sectional l heat exchanger (with a 5-year warranty) for quick heat-up times, even heat distribution and maximum efficiency of up to 108%, Upton boilers are also fully compliant with the Energy Related Products Directive (ErP) and Building Regulations Part L.

Minimum disruption

In the unlikely event of a breakdown, the building can still be heated sufficiently by other modules in the system – if one module fails, the other modules will carry on working normally as the boilers run in a cascade operating configuration.  Furthermore, each boiler can be taken offline independently, without disrupting the continuation of supply during routine maintenance.  It’s also worth remembering that Upton boilers can be installed alongside an existing boiler.  This enables a smooth changeover from the old heating system to new with little or no system downtime.  

Conclusion

In today’s world of emission concerns, pressures to reduce cost and the need to achieve more with less, Upton boilers are superior in helping to reduce the energy consumption needed to meet the demands of a building. Delivering a constant and reliable heat supply, without the risk of disruption and unplanned downtime, Upton boilers can offer a cost-effective alternative to a traditional large single boiler.  Moreover, thanks to their small footprint and low CO2 and NOx emissions, they successfully reduce the space needed for heating equipment while lowering impact on the environment.

https://hamworthy-heating.com/About-us/Our-news/Aluminium-boiler-with-1MW-output

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Manor Drive Academy chooses fermacell® for new school development

As part of the Manor Drive Academy development in Peterborough, architects Jestico + Whiles and contractor Raimondas Petrulis have specified the unique building board fermacell® for the ceilings and walls in its new sports hall.

Part of a range of products by James Hardie, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of building materials, fermacell® is a fibre gypsum board which provides superior fire resistance, acoustic performance and impact strength. For the sports hall wall construction, a double layer lining of 12.5 mm fermacell® was used to ensure higher levels of protection against ball impact, and provide long-term durability.  The high-density board comes with a 20-year impact warranty and can be installed before the building is water tight, which not only helped with the speed of the build but also had a positive impact on carbon reduction as fermacell® is verified to store C02*. 

The new four-court sports hall is a major part of the Manor Drive School development.  Manor Drive Secondary Academy adjoins the primary building and at full capacity the schools will cater for up to 1346 students. (900 secondary and 446 primary) with numbers planned to grow incrementally year on year.

Jon Jacznik, Director at DCL Drywall Contracts commented: “The sports hall area is a prime example of how the fermacell high density boards can provide protection from direct impact from sports activities as well as resistance from extreme wear and tear. With a 20 year impact warranty the client has peace of mind that the product will stand up to all future sports events.”

Chris Winwood, Commercial Sales Manager at James Hardie added: “The design team were looking for ways to speed up the build time whilst not compromising on quality. The architect and contractor specified Fermacell® because of its established reputation in the Education sector, offering the robustness of blockwork with the speed and install of drywall, saving time, money and space making it ideal for modern school environments.”

 

https://www.fermacell.co.uk/en

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TRILUX Lights to Inspire Innovation, Team Interactions and Automation

The University of Edinburgh’s Usher Building at Edinburgh BioQuarter’s health innovation district, provided TRILUX with the perfect opportunity to showcase its innovative lighting and control solutions.

The Vision: Transforming Health Through Light

Located within The University of Edinburgh’s College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, the Usher Institute aims to transform health in society by working with people, populations, and data. The Usher Building houses the Usher Institute with its four core research centres and the Edinburgh Clinical Trials Unit – alongside partners from public, private and third sector organisations. Funded as part of the Data-Driven Innovation Initiative of the Edinburgh and Southeast Scotland City Region Deal, the facility has been designed by international design practice Hassell Studio to be a welcoming space for focus, collaboration, and engagement, with space for around 1000 occupants

The lighting project was crucial to this mission. The objective was to create an environment conducive to health research and collaboration, utilising as few manufacturers as possible.

The Challenge: Integrating Seamless Lighting Solutions

Designing a lighting system for the Usher Building, a complex and multifunctional facility, posed significant challenges. The aim was to install efficient lighting throughout the building, ensuring that office lighting worked with ceiling raft details and communal lighting matched the architectural finishes. The project demanded a seamless integration of lighting controls to provide efficiency, flexibility and additional functionality.

The Solution: TRILUX Lighting and Building Controls

Delivered by Leon Gray, a TRILUX distributor, and installed by EMTEC Group with lighting design by Ainsley Cramer, the lighting scheme consisted of 400 custom-designed Sonnos downlights featuring a bronze and black RAL finish; these downlights blended perfectly with the building’s architectural metal finishes. Over 600 Solvan Flows, 300 Amatris, and numerous LED linear runs were installed, providing uniform and efficient lighting throughout the facility. 

However, the star of the show was the LiveLink controls system, which offers numerous benefits: semi-automatic lighting with absence detection for maximum energy savings, multiple lighting scenes for dramatic effects in event spaces, push-button controls for on/off and dimming, simplified partition controls for flexible space usage, remote access for modifications and service checks, daylight controls with window row dimming to optimise energy efficiency, and extensive DALI networks across the building for comprehensive lighting management.

The Impact: A Bright, Efficient Future for the Usher Building

The new lighting solutions provided by TRILUX significantly enhance the Usher Building’s usability and aesthetic appeal. The efficient and well-integrated lighting systems support the facility’s goal of fostering interdisciplinary research and collaboration. The reflective spaces, such as the reading room and cellular meeting spaces, benefit from the custom lighting, creating an ideal environment for focused work and engagement. The lighting has also improved the overall atmosphere of the facility, making it a more inviting and productive space for its users.

“As a research and innovation institute focussed on health and social care, we wanted our Usher Building to be designed with wellbeing and efficiency at its heart – and for it to be a space that draws our team and collaborators together. Lots of natural light is complemented by flexible lighting from the TRILUX team to ensure we can work most effectively whatever the weather!”  

TRILUX’s lighting solutions have enhanced the Usher Building’s environment and contributed to a brighter, more connected, and healthier future for the researchers and partners working within this leading medical campus – power is combined in a proven management team – this creates good prospects for the future!” Susan Buckingham, Head of Communications, Marketing and Engagement at the Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh comments.

For further information on the TRILUX lighting and control solutions please visit https://www.trilux.com/en/

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Improving air quality in and around schools

Megan Bennett, Product Marketing Manager at Nuaire, discusses the importance of improving air quality for schools, and how this can be achieved. 

Schools should be a safe place to learn, yet 86% of new schools in England are in areas breaching World Health Organization air pollution limits; that’s 147 schools. Sadly, there is no legal requirement for air pollution to be considered in planning for new schools despite children spending on an average 35 hours a week at school for half the year.

How dangerous is air pollution for children?

In the most recent annual air quality assessment, the UK was non-compliant with the annual mean concentration limit value for NOx at a number of roadside locations in urban areas. It is estimated that 65% of the NOx concentrations at the roadside originate as NOx emissions from road transport. 

Short-term exposure to concentrations of NOx can cause inflammation of the airways and increase susceptibility to respiratory infections and to allergens. Children are particularly vulnerable because their bodies, organs, and immune systems are still developing.  Furthermore, children tend to spend more time outside – including travelling to and from school – so have greater exposure to polluted air.  

Over the years we have come to better understand the harm brought about by exposure to external air pollution, even in small amounts.  But indoor air quality is very much understudied compared to outdoor air pollution, despite the fact that it impacts pupils’ health and concentration, affecting attendance and attainment. 

What can be done to improve air quality in and around schools?

Externally, the focus is on encouraging people away from their cars for short journeys and campaigning for wider access to reliable, affordable and efficient public transport  The expansion of Low Emission Zones (LEZs) in urban areas is also being put forward as, despite controversy, these have been proven to reduce air pollution.  In Greater London, it has been estimated that this has contributed to a 4.5% reduction in long-term health problems and an 8% decrease in respiratory issues.  

But what about indoor air quality?  Reducing external air pollution will have a positive impact on internal air quality, but it’s not the entire story.

Education buildings can be some of the most diverse, with most of them having classrooms, kitchens, canteens, halls, gymnasiums and even swimming pools.  Indoor air quality varies tremendously not only between schools, but also within them.  Effective ventilation solutions must be deployed within schools to provide good IAQ that is conducive to learning.

When it comes to classrooms, systems that are powerful enough able to ventilate multiple rooms and that come with a filter to remove incoming pollutants, such as the Nuaire XBOXER XBC range, are ideal.  

For sports halls, the biggest challenge is CO2 and odours which must be removed. Air Handling Units are perfect for these environments as they are able to provide a high volume of air movement and do so with high efficiency. To not waste energy through running the unit when the space is not in use, it is good practice to use occupancy sensors and pollutant sensors (such as CO2 sensors) which control when units are active. This will prevent them running when ventilation is not required.

If the school is lucky has an indoor swimming pool, then a ventilation system that can cope with high levels of humidity and corrosive chlorine needs to be specified.  Nuaire’s Boxer Bespoke range of AHUs can be coated for such applications.

Toilets and WCs in schools are high use areas which can fill with indoor air pollutants and odours very quickly if not ventilated correctly.  Twin fans technology is standard practice for areas such as toilets. Duty share of the two fans within the unit mean that the fan continues to work in the event of one fan failing. 

In school kitchens, a bifurcated fan, such as Nuaire’s Squif range, with the motor out of the airstream is a good solution, as it means that pollutants such as grease do not clog up the motor – something that can result in fan failure over time.  

Addressing both external air pollution and indoor air quality is vital if we are to provide our children with a safe, comfortable place to learn.  No child should have to breath dangerous or stale air just to get an education.  

For more information go to www.nuaire.co.uk/commercial/education

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North Ayrshire sees first Passivhaus school

Irvine’s newest school has now been open a month – with pupils and staff setting into their new surroundings.

Built by Robertson Construction North West, the school opened in August and as part of the council’s ambitious net-zero drive, is the first ‘Passivhaus’ school in the region.

Passivhaus Standard delivers buildings which provide a high level of comfort for occupants, while using very little energy for heating and cooling. The new school will use significantly less energy than a typical school building, resulting in lower carbon emissions, and lower energy bills.

Montgomerie Park Primary accommodates up to 342 pupils, plus an early learning and childcare facility with 32 places for three to five-year-olds, and 15 places for two-year-olds.

Councillor Shaun Macaulay, Cabinet Member for Education, said: “We are proud of this fantastic new school which marks a new chapter in the lives of the children and staff. It is an incredible facility and we are confident it will provide a learning and teaching environment of the very highest quality.”

Andy McLinden, Regional Managing Director, Robertson Construction Central West, said: “It is with huge satisfaction that we deliver this project, not only a new high-quality school but a milestone in the national journey to net zero. In close collaboration with North Ayrshire Council, we have created a place that truly meets the needs and aspirations of the pupils, providing them with a nurturing educational environment where they can thrive.

“Beyond the creation of these state-of-the-art facilities, this project has also significantly contributed to community wealth building. We employed 54 local people, hosted 130 apprenticeship weeks on site, and supported employment programmes, ensuring that our work leaves a lasting legacy in the local area.”

Initial work on the new school began in March 2023. It was built to rigorous energy efficiency standards and comprises 12 classrooms, early learning facilities, a gymnasium incorporating flexible performance areas, dining facilities, along with outdoor learning spaces including a seven-a-side all-weather pitch.

Source: North Ayrshire Council

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New era begins for Ysgol Robert Owen

A new era has begun for a special school in north Powys after pupils and staff moved into their new building this week.

The new school building for Newtown’s Ysgol Robert Owen (formerly Ysgol Cedewain) is the latest project that has been completed by Powys County Council under its Transforming Education Programme.

As part of the programme, the council has already built one new high school and 10 primary schools and also carried out remodelling works at a primary and a high school.

The brand-new building has been built for pupils with additional learning needs by Wynne Construction on behalf of the council. 75% of the funding for the project is being provided by the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, with the remaining 25% of funding being provided by the council.

The state-of-the-art new building has replaced the very poor accommodation at the school’s current building, and includes facilities for very vulnerable learners, including a hydrotherapy pool, sensory and physiotherapy rooms and garden as well as a community café.

Outdoor sports facilities will now be developed on the grounds on the site of the former school buildings now they have been vacated.

Staff are now able to teach in a learning environment that is fit-for-purpose, and for parents they have confidence that their children are being supported within the best facilities and accommodation.

Cllr Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: “I’m delighted that pupils and staff of Ysgol Robert Owen have moved into their fantastic new school building.

“I would like to thank the school community for their patience while this facility was being built. I would also like to acknowledge the school’s input into this scheme to ensure that it was built to minimise the design impact on pupils.

“This project has seen the council provide a world-class facility for the county’s most vulnerable learners.

“This new building is an important part of our Strategy to Transform Education in Powys and will provide an environment where teaching staff and thrive and give vulnerable learners the facilities that meets their needs, they benefit from and enables them to enjoy learning.”

To read the council’s Strategy for Transforming Education 2020-2032 and details of the Transforming Education Programme – Wave 2 (2022 – 2027) visit Transforming Education

Source: Powys County Council

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