FEATURE FOCUS: SCHOOL MAINTENANCE & DESIGN


to work in during that period. Staff can also advise on whether enabling works can be completed before the summer holiday. Working closely with school staff also means


the delivery team can explain the full extent of a project, including design and layout, so that any potential issues can be overcome before they arise.


Live environments Where work does need to be carried out when pupils are on site, it’s vital to create a physical barrier that will prevent noise and dust escaping. If pupils are working close to the site, then


traditional scaffolding sheets won’t provide a high enough level of shielding or security. Instead, fully sealed temporary walling systems should be installed so that children and staff will see only a clean wall and a locked access door. This approach also ensures that only those with


the right credentials will be able to enter the work site. In an ideal world, the school’s population


The truncated timescales and inflexible


completion deadlines this approach creates means careful planning is critical. It’s vital to ensure that the required resources are available as workers taking leave and multiple schools in the same areas often choosing to undergo work at the same time, the labour market can be a pinch point. Any activities still taking place on site, such as summer courses, exams or community groups, must also be accommodated.


Stakeholder engagement Between the Local Authority, the board of governors, academic staff, parents and local


residents, there are many parties involved in any given refurbishment project and communication with all of these groups right through the process is essential. At Novus, we believe that the bulk of the


planning work should be done in partnership with school staff and stakeholders directly, rather than through the local authority. While local authorities have a degree of


knowledge about schools, they do not always know the inner workings of a school. For example, if a project was planned to run slightly into the first school term, only the staff themselves know which areas will still be available


shouldn’t be affected by, or even aware of, the work taking place at all. Again, careful planning and consultation plays a role, as scheduling any loud works for noisy break times will further minimise any disruption to lessons.


Delivering excellent schools By updating the aesthetics and maximising the use of space, a well-executed refurbishment project can transform a school and deliver what feels like a new building at a much lower cost. As the government continues to invest in


refurbishment works to schools across the country, ensuring that these projects are delivered to a high standard, on time and on budget will be critical in giving educators the facilities they need to deliver excellent services for their students.


CASE STUDY: BARNWELL ACADEMY NEAR SUNDERLAND


Barnwell Academy in Sunderland, which has been part of the Barnwell Academy Trust since 2014, caters for boys and girls up to 11 and has space for around 280 pupils. In 2017, the school underwent a £270,000


exterior refurbishment. The school’s windows were coming to the


end of their expected life and the original timber cladding also needed an upgrade, so the board decided to refurbish the whole exterior. Funding for the project was secured through the government’s new Condition Improvement Fund by architects Faithful & Gould, who acted as the specifier and led the design for the project. To avoid disruption to staff and students,


the work was carried out during the summer break. Nine Novus operatives worked on site throughout the summer to complete the project on time ready for the start of the new term in September. The school building was originally


constructed according to an approach developed in the 1960s and 1970s to speed up construction of schools and other local authority buildings under the Consortium of Local Authorities Special Programme (CLASP). These buildings were based on a simple


May 2018


steel frame with cladding panels and a flat roof, making them quick to construct with the flexibility to be updated in the future. A big challenge for the project, and one


that is common with CLASP buildings, was the presence of asbestos, which needed to be removed under carefully controlled conditions. As part of this process, the operatives sealed in the asbestos using specially designed encapsulation paint to ensure it was fully contained. The design of the original building meant


that the cladding demolition had to be conducted at the same time as the asbestos removal and encapsulation. All of the steel columns were cladded in asbestos boards, so the team had to strip the building back to its structure to guarantee no trace of asbestos remained anywhere in the school. The project demonstrates how important it


is to expect the unexpected with refurbishments. The team didn’t know the full severity of


the asbestos situation at the school until the relevant parts of the site were opened up, so the scope of the removal work was difficult to predict. However, by factoring this uncertainty in at the start of the process, and working


closely with a specialist consultant and subcontractor throughout the project, the harmful material was extracted on time and within budget. Once the asbestos and timber cladding had


been safely removed, Novus operatives installed new upgraded and energy-efficient external wall insulation, windows, and fascias. An external wall insulation render was also applied to all the walls, delivering insulation in areas that had none previously. As well as improving the aesthetic appeal of


the building, and increasing the amount of light that enters the school, the refurbishment has also significantly reduced emission and cut down on energy usage and costs for the school. The upgrade has transformed the school


and created a more welcoming and visually appealing environment for its children.


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