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Government to take new approach to education infrastructure

Michelle Davies, DPP Consulting’s Director and Education Lead, explores the Labour government’s approach to education infrastructure.

Shortly after Labour took office, its new Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announced plans to reform the planning system, focusing on unlocking “stalled sites” and prioritising economic benefits in planning decisions. This includes support for local authorities with the appointment of an additional 300 new planning officers.

The government is now also consulting on a new NPPF which now places “significant weight” on the importance of new, expanded or upgraded public infrastructure, including educational buildings. Despite this backdrop, there has been limited information on how the new government will be improving school infrastructure.

The School Rebuilding Programme

The School Rebuilding Programme (SRP) remains active, with no indications from the government that it will be halted. The SRP is a key initiative aimed at addressing the condition of school buildings across England, with plans to rebuild or refurbish over 500 schools in poor condition over a decade.

The importance of this programme is underscored by the National Audit Office (NAO) report from June 2023, which highlighted that approximately 700,000 pupils are learning in schools that require significant rebuilding or refurbishment.

The issue of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) further complicates matters, with 234 education settings in England confirmed as having RAAC and 119 of these schools needing major rebuilding or refurbishment. It remains to be seen how the government will approach this pressing issue.

The government’s primary focus so far has been on other educational reforms, such as increasing teacher recruitment, introducing free breakfast clubs, and pledging to create 3,000 new nurseries within existing primary schools. While it seems unlikely that it would reduce funding on educational infrastructure, there is still no clear commitment at this stage.

A new emphasis on public infrastructure

One area where we see more immediate and tangible changes is in the proposed updates to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). These updates could provide much-needed support for planning applications related to education infrastructure projects.

In the draft NPPF, paragraphs 96 and 97 have been expanded to encourage not only the provision school places, but also the development of early years and post-16 education infrastructure. This broader scope is significant as it suggests a more holistic approach to supporting educational needs, encompassing nurseries, special education needs (SEN), and further and higher education institutions. 

Moreover, paragraph 98 of the draft NPPF has been revised to place “significant weight” on the importance of new, expanded or upgraded public service infrastructure, including education buildings, in planning decisions. This revision is helpful because planning applications, including for new educational facilities, often involve balancing multiple competing interests. The added emphasis on the importance of educational infrastructure could tip the scales in favour of approval, particularly where there is clear need for improved facilities. As a planner, it will be interesting to see how this plays out in real situations and applications.

The explicit support for a wider range of educational facilities and the greater value placed on these projects within NPPF should be helpful when seeking approval for projects that address not just immediate school place shortages or improvements but also broader educational needs within communities.

Consultation on the new NPPF closes on 24 September 2024 and is expected to be formally in place shortly after. However, when it comes to spending commitments there are a lot of ifs, buts and ‘possibilities’ in all of these statements, and as a fundamental sector in the economic development of the UK, our educators and educational planners could do with more certainty.

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Leicestershire sees opening of new SEND school

A brand-new specialist school for pupils with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs has completed in Shepshed, Leicestershire, offering facilities for students aged 4-16 from September 2024.

Bowman Academy, which is situated on the former site of St Botolph’s Primary School, located to the east of Shepshed on Loughborough Road, will see pupils benefit from a range of facilities to suit their needs. This includes classroom suites with vinyl areas to support practical learning, a sensory “dark room”, practical teaching spaces including a domestic kitchen, a library, a calming room, and a main hall with a demountable stage.

The new build SEND school, which has been designed sympathetically to the needs of SEMH learning, has space for 64 pupils, with facilities for 16 primary-aged children across two ground floor classrooms, with the remaining 48 secondary-aged pupils split across two ground floor classrooms, and a further four on the first floor. The first floor also has an additional three classrooms for practical uses.

Multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard was behind the scheme, providing architectural services for main contractor Bowmer + Kirkland, which was procured by the Department for Education (DfE) under the Modern Methods of Construction (MMC1) framework.

Joe West, associate at Pick Everard, said: “Working on SEND schools is always a privilege, with unique design applications and special consideration for the needs of a diverse range of learning.

“Creating an environment that is both functional and comfortable for pupils was central to the aims of the project, which should in turn aid the school in attracting and retaining students in the area.

“The construction technique employed on this project was a fully offsite solution, so thorough sequencing and planning was paramount to ensure all materials were delivered safely and successfully, as well as meeting the highest standards.

“We’re delighted to have worked alongside Bowmer + Kirkland once again to deliver this fantastic academy for pupils in the area with SEMH needs.”

Driving sustainability initiatives, Bowman Academy’s design includes a ‘fabric-first’ approach, which reduces the energy requirements of the building through measures including high levels of insulation, heat recovery and air tightness.

High efficiency boilers have been installed at the school, which will be run by the Community Inclusive Trust (CIT), as well as LED lighting with occupancy and daylight controls for resource management. The building also has glare control and sustainable natural ventilation, providing a low energy cost solution.

Additionally, the site includes a photovoltaic panel array, providing a ten per cent energy consumption offset from renewable technology.

Steve Waldron, contracts manager at Bowmer + Kirkland, said: “We have been working for the DfE since 2013 and are proud of the 73 schools we have completed, but specialist schools are unique in the enormous difference they make to the pupils and their families. We are delighted to continue our relationship with Pick Everard to deliver another fantastic facility which will improve the lives of so many young people.”

Cllr Deborah Taylor, cabinet member for Children and Families at Leicestershire County Council, said: “It is exciting to see the school completed and we’re looking forward to it opening and welcoming new pupils.

“The building of Bowman Academy part of a wider program to ensure provision is available to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in Leicestershire, as close to their homes as possible.

“This includes both the building of special schools and creating provision in mainstream schools.”

James Ellis, CIT’s director of SEND education, said, “This is a very exciting time for Bowman Academy. SEMH is a unique sector of education requiring distinctive building design to support the delivery of specialist teaching and care for pupils.

“We look forward to welcoming children in Shepshed and the surrounding area to our new setting and supporting them to develop the knowledge and skills they need to help them thrive in adult life.”

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£1m demolition of B-listed school building approved

The B-listed main building at the former home of Rothesay Academy is finally set to be demolished, at a cost of nearly £1m.

Argyll and Bute Council planning officials have approved the authority’s own application for ‘listed building consent’ to demolish the Academy Road premises, which have lain empty since 2007 and have increasingly become a focus for vandalism and anti-social behaviour since then.

Only a single expression of support was received from the public, with no objections. Historic Environment Scotland (HES) were also reported to have raised no objections.

The decision was taken without elected councillors being involved, and a report said: “HES have stated that a listed building cannot be replaced when it is gone, and there is a strong presumption in national planning policy for their retention.

The former school was opened in 1959 and designed by David Harvey.

HES’ Buildings At Risk register describes it as a ‘very fine modernist building’ and the listing designation states: “The former Rothesay Academy is an important example of secondary school architecture of the 1950s in Scotland.

“Prominently located on high ground facing the sea with commanding views over the town, the aspirational design breaks away from the Art Deco influences of the inter-war period.

“It uses overtly modernist devices such as narrow supporting columns (pilotis), sheer glazed curtain-wall classroom blocks and angular projections to emphasise its balanced, asymmetrical composition.

“It is one of a small number of post-war school buildings of this quality in the west of Scotland.”

The report added that a survey had found ‘a series of significant defects, including penetrating damp throughout the building, failing roof coverings, failing rainwater goods, and structural defects throughout the building’s external fabric’.

It also said there were several areas where ‘poor workmanship’ had been contributing to the advancement of decay throughout.

“It (the building) has become a magnet for vandalism, fire raising and anti-social behaviour. Both the police and fire services have regularly been involved and are keen for the council to address the situation,” the report adds.

“Adjacent homeowners and occupiers have similarly raised concerns and have noted the poor condition of the property.

“There are health and safety implications and the council’s insurers have raised concerns that there may be a significant risk of injury or even loss of life from parties entering the building illegally.

“Security has been a key concern in light of the above and the council has spent significant sums securing the building with steel plates and appropriate signage.

“However, even this has not proven to be 100% effective with reports of vandals using power tools to remove the panels to obtain access.”

Source: The Lochside Press

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Belhaven Hill School’s new classroom building plan approved

A bid for a new classroom building at a Dunbar school has been given pass marks by East Lothian Council.

Belhaven Hill School approached the local authority’s planning department last summer about creating a new classroom building. Permission was granted and approval has now been given to a second application.

The revised plans, which attracted no objections from members of the public, show two classrooms, a plant and storage room, office, lobby, bathroom and storage room.

The planning officer’s report said: “The proposed building would be of a contemporary design; however, given its siting within the grounds of Belhaven School and the high stone wall boundary treatment to the north of the proposed building, it would be relatively well contained from public views.

“Furthermore, when viewed in the context of the size and scale of the existing buildings within the grounds of the school, the proposed building would appear subservient in height, scale and massing, and would not result in the over development of the area of land on which it would be sited.”

The scheme is part of a three-phase planned development at the school, off Dunbar’s Belhaven Road, which last year celebrated its centenary.

Phase two focuses on the extension and enhancement of sporting facilities, while the final phase looks to replace temporary structures with 21st-century classroom space.

The school counts artist Hugh Buchanan and journalist Magnus Linklater among its former pupils.

Source: East Lothian Courier

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Scape Deputy CEO says poor condition of schools is impacting student learning

In a letter to The Guardian published this week, Deputy CEO of Scape Group and former Cabinet Office construction chief Caroline Compton-James, said:

“The education secretary is absolutely right in identifying that inequality, particularly regional inequality, in our school system is “baked in”, and we should welcome any moves from central government that seek to address that (Education secretary warns of ‘baked-in’ inequality in English school system, 13 August). But there is a glaring gap in this conversation that the government needs to recognise: the very real and ongoing issue of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac), which continues to affect hundreds of schools.

“Four schools in North Tyneside experienced months of disruption due to crumbling concrete and were still waiting for urgent repairs during exam season. Meanwhile, students at a school in Durham have been making do with temporary classrooms since a Raac-induced closure last September.

“While schools are doing all they can to mitigate the situation, the Association of School and College Leaders has expressed concern that these conditions may significantly impact students’ learning, putting their futures at risk.

“UK schools need full support from the government on this matter. Our country’s young people deserve to learn in buildings that will help them thrive, and though reactive measures such as granting A-level result uplifts will help things in the short-term, the root cause of the issue still needs addressing.

“Our schools and local authorities need the resources, skills and funding to repair and maintain their facilities in the long run. Without these, the inequalities that the education minister speaks of are only going to be baked in further. But with the right plans, support and urgency from the government, we can begin to redress the balance and ensure future generations all have a safe, inspiring environment to learn in, whether they live in North Tyneside, Durham or London.”

Source: The Guardian

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Nottinghamshire school buildings most in need of improvement to see £8.6m investment

The latest programme of school infrastructure improvements across the county, worth £8.6m, has been unveiled.

The investment is part of the Nottinghamshire County Council’s annual school building improvement work which will be designed and delivered by Arc Partnership, a joint venture between the council and SCAPE.

A dozen schools will benefit from a range of improvements, dependent on the needs for each school. The works will include roof replacements, drainage improvements as well as energy-efficient lighting and boiler upgrades.

Maun Infant and Nursery School, in New Ollerton, is one such school to benefit, and £135,000 worth of work will help improve parts of an old drainage system plus replace internal rainwater pipes.

Cabinet member for economic development and asset management, Keith Girling, said: “Investing in our schools’ infrastructure is vital. Young people deserve to study and learn in buildings which are fit-for-purpose.

“We know that some schools were impacted by flooding earlier this year, so those schools most in need of improvements to their drainage systems are being prioritised. We have also secured some government money to help towards this work.

“This latest programme of work will once again help school buildings be more energy efficient and help save on bills. It is all part of a long-term investment plan which has seen various improvements to 67 school buildings since 2021.

“Once again, the vast majority of this work will be carried out by local contractors, which is good news for the local economy.”

Sam Smith, cabinet member for education and SEND, alongside the council leader Ben Bradley, recently wrote to the Department for Education to get reassurance of its commitment to fund the council’s school rebuilding programme.

He said: “This annual programme to improve school buildings is an important investment in our children’s future.”

While the council has a duty to maintain school infrastructure, the day-to-day maintenance tasks are the responsibility of the respective schools. This collaborative approach helps to ensure that schools can address immediate maintenance needs and allow the council to focus on larger infrastructure projects and improvements.

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Construction works begins at Itchen Sixth Form College

Construction of a new two-storey teaching block has started at Itchen Sixth Form College.

The project, delivered by complete construction partner Stepnell on behalf of Itchen, will enable the college to replace six temporary classrooms that were in very poor condition, nearing end of life and inefficient in terms of their energy use. The new two-storey teaching block will provide students with seven much-needed new classrooms and an extra sports hall.

Preparatory works at the Middle Road site started in May, before building works began in July.

The scheme is jointly funded by the college and the Department for Education’s post-16 capacity fund.

Rob Speirs, regional director at Stepnell, said: “This is a fantastic project for Stepnell to be involved in and we look forward to the construction progressing. As part of our social value strategy, we will have apprentices and work experience trainees on the project and will utilise local suppliers and specialist subcontractors.”

Alex Scott, principal at Itchen Sixth Form College, said: “We are delighted to see work underway, on time for delivery early in 2025. The new building will enable us to further enhance the experience of our staff and students, replacing tired accommodation with purpose built, state of the art facilities. We are pleased to work with Stepnell and Clifton Projects to achieve this aim.”

The construction works are being managed by Cliftons Projects. Malcolm Wright, director at Cliftons Projects, said: “We are thrilled to announce the commencement of our third project for Itchen Sixth Form College, featuring the construction of seven new classrooms and a multi-purpose sports hall. This new build two storey 1,100m2 facility will be adjacent to the existing college buildings, enhancing the learning environment for students and staff.

“We are excited to support Itchen Sixth Form College in improving its facilities. This development reflects our commitment to creating inspiring and functional educational spaces.”

The project also includes upgrading the college car park and removing the outdated modular classrooms, making way for permanent and modern educational spaces.

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Keys to new schools at Dunfermline Learning Campus handed over

FIFE Council has officially taken ownership of the new St Columba’s RC High School and Woodmill High School at the Dunfermline Learning Campus.

The keys were ceremoniously handed over to councillor David Ross, leader of the local authority, by BAM’s construction director for Scotland, Martin Cooper, in what marked the completion of the transformative educational project.

The Dunfermline Learning Campus project was collaborative effort between Fife Council, Fife College, and the Scottish Government. The schools’ build is procured and managed by hub East Central Scotland. In time, the campus will co-locate pupils, students, and staff from St Columba’s RC High School, Woodmill High School, and Fife College, in modern, fit-for-purpose, and low-carbon facilities.

The new schools are equipped with innovative internal spaces, including a ‘Learning Lab’ with performance analysis tools, media studios, recording booths, and extensive creative project spaces. The campus also features learning plazas, breakout booths, digitally enabled learning spaces, and a range of outdoor facilities designed to promote holistic development and wellbeing.

The construction of the new schools began in September 2021, spearheaded by BAM Construction, and reached completion in June 2024. Reflecting on the project, Martin Cooper said, “It has been a privilege to work on such a forward-thinking project. The completion of the schools at Dunfermline Learning Campus is a testament to the dedication and hard work of everyone involved. We are proud to deliver these outstanding facilities that will serve the community for many years.”

Councillor David Ross added, “We’re delighted to take ownership of these exceptional new facilities. The completion of St Columba’s RC High School and Woodmill High School represents a significant investment in the future of our young people and our community. These schools will provide state-of-the-art learning environments that will inspire and support our students for generations to come.”

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Construction complete on new East Calder Primary

The brand-new state-of-the-art East Calder Primary School was handed over to West Lothian Council by Hub South East and Morrison Construction recently.

This will allow staff and pupils to move into the superb new school for the start of the new school term in August 2024, with the recently built Early Years extension retained.

A special event was held to mark the occasion, with East Calder pupils and staff joined by some of key people involved in the huge project of delivering the new school.

Leader of West Lothian Council Lawrence Fitzpatrick said: “I’m delighted that this superb new East Calder Primary School has been delivered on time and on budget.

“This fabulous new facility will provide an excellent platform for the delivery of quality education for the East Calder community.

“Thanks to everyone who has been involved delivering such a wonderful asset for our local children.”

East Calder Headteacher Fiona Stewart added: “All the staff and pupils at East Calder Primary are very excited to get into our amazing brand-new school.

“It will allow us to enhance the learning experiences we can offer our children for many years to come.”

The project was delivered on behalf of the council by development partner Hub South East with Morrison Construction as the lead contractor

This is the same partnership that recently delivered the new multi- school Winchburgh Schools development, West Calder High School and Calderwood Primary in East Calder.

Works to demolish the previous school building and complete the remaining external works are ongoing.

Eileen Mackin, Hub South East’s Project Director, said: “Our successful relationship with West Lothian Council has already delivered a range of inspiring learning spaces and we are proud to have successfully handed over the latest investment in their education estate.

“The new East Calder Primary school has a unique design, includes a mixture of flexible collaborative and individual workspaces and makes excellent use of its surroundings, with access to outdoor play and learning spaces. Having seen the smiles on the faces of both staff and pupils as they toured their new building, we’re confident it’s going to make a real positive difference to the learner journey of its young people when it opens in the new school term.”

David Ewing, Managing Director of Morrison Construction Building Central, commented: “East Calder Primary School was a truly exceptional project with exceptional results. The teams that worked to create this school should be proud of the work they have achieved.”

The £18.3 million facility was required as the current school building is not suitable for the future delivery of high-quality education due to a number of issues including suitability, accessibility and sustainability. Due to rising construction costs, a fixed price was agreed to remove additional financial risks.

It has been jointly funded by Scottish and Local Government as part of the Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP), which is administered by the Scottish Futures Trust. This programme previously supported the construction of the new Beatlie Campus in Livingston and is helping fund the new Craigshill primary school in Livingston.

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ROCKWOOL streamlines cavity barrier offering with ROCKWOOL SCB

ROCKWOOL is introducing a new EN-tested product to help prevent the spread of fire through concealed voids. The stone wool insulation manufacturer has developed a new cavity barrier called SCB.

The product is an expansion of its current range of cavity fire stopping products and is tested to meet the requirements of BS EN 1366-4:2021.

This new product development underlines the company’s commitment to offering products tested to the latest BS EN standards, while simultaneously providing customers with a more streamlined range.

ROCKWOOL SCB combines the functions of the currently available TCB and PWCB, building and expanding on their scope of application to replace these products. SCB will be available in two widths: 110mm as standard, and 200mm for use where a party wall meets the external cavity.

It is suitable for use in masonry, timber frame and steel frame cavities up to 290mm, and can be installed horizontally or vertically.

“Responding to customers’ requests, our new SCB has been tested with a steel frame substrate in addition to timber,” said Will Wigfield, Product Manager HVAC & Fire Protection at ROCKWOOL. “With a fire rating of up to E120, I45, subject to the application, we are confident that SCB will support specifiers seeking to meet and exceed performance guidelines – for example, the E30, I15, Approved Document B (ADB Volume 1) criteria relating to dwellings.”

TCB and PWCB will be phased out following the launch of SCB on 15th May 2024 and ROCKWOOL recommends switching to SCB specification in advance where possible. Specifications written prior to the expiration of the TCB and PWCB certifications will remain valid and the products remain available until 15 November 2024.

https://rockwool.link/SCB

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