Hampshire County Council

Executive Member, Policy & Resources Item

12 December 2001

The Romsey School

Report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

1.

Summary

1.1

The Romsey School currently has 1,074 pupils on roll and this number is forecast to rise at the start of the September 2002 term. Accordingly, an allocation of £293,000, excluding fees, has been included in the Education Committee's 2001/02 Capital Programme for a scheme to provide an additional 57 Basic Need places.

1.2

In March 1999 the County Education Officer agreed to the setting up of resourced provision attached to two secondary schools in Hampshire, catering for the needs of pupils with broadly average abilities but who have autistic spectrum disorders. The County Education Officer submitted a bid in September 2000 to the then Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) for funding for a specialist provision at this school. The bid was successful and subsequently £214,000, excluding fees has been added to the Education Committee's 2001/02 Capital Programme to provide the specialist accommodation at this school.

1.3

In order to maximise the potential available funding and minimise disruption to the school, it is proposed to combine both elements of the work into one carefully managed project to enable the provision of Basic Need accommodation and the creation of the specialist unit. These proposals have been agreed by the Headteacher and Governors of the school and the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services has developed a scheme showing the amalgamation of the two projects.

1.4

At the December 2000 meeting of the Education Buildings Sub-Committee Members approved a design project appraisal for a scheme to provide a specialist unit and additional Basic Need accommodation at Robert Mays Secondary School and this scheme is due for completion in May 2002. If the proposals outlined in this appraisal are approved the project will be completed during August 2002 and the resourced provision at two Hampshire secondary schools will be achieved.

1.5

The purpose of this report is to outline the proposals and seek approval to the attached building design project appraisal.

2.

Scope of the Works

2.1

It is proposed to provide a two storey extension to the southern elevation of the existing buildings on site. The new building will be constructed on an area of open grass, adjacent to an Artificial Turf Pitch (ATP) recently constructed in this area.

2.2

The new accommodation has been carefully designed to provide a dedicated specialist unit on the ground floor which will have its own entrance. However, the specialist accommodation has purposely been positioned within the heart of the school and with general teaching accommodation located on the upper floor, allows the integration and not segregation of pupils in the specialist unit.

2.3

The proposed new extension will provide a specialist unit with kitchenette and store, Special Education Needs (SEN) classroom, group room, office, shower room, two WC's, boiler room and entrance / circulation area, with lockers, on the ground floor. The first floor accommodation will provide three general teaching classrooms and a corridor / circulation area with lockers.

2.4

Landscaping associated with the project will include the provision of new link pathways from the main building and the ATP and paving and soft planting around the new building.

2.5

As part of these proposals it is intended to construct a link bridge walkway from the first floor of the new extension to the first floor accommodation in the existing building which will provide direct access to the general teaching classrooms in the new extension. This element of the work will be included in this project a tender option and will only be incorporated into the scheme if tender returns are favourable.

3.

Funding and Timing

3.1

An allocation of £293,000, excluding fees, has been included in the Education Committee's 2001/02 Capital Programme to provide an additional 57 Basic Need places. Further funding of £214,000, excluding fees, has been made available from the then DfEE for the specialist unit and both these elements of funding give a total of £507,000, excluding fees, for the proposals outlined in this design project appraisal.

3.2

It is anticipated that tenders will be invited during December 2001 and works will commence on site during March 2002 and be completed during August 2002.

Conclusion

The proposed extension and alteration scheme will result in the required amount of additional basic need accommodation along with dedicated specialist teaching accommodation, providing an improved environment for pupils. Approval is accordingly sought to the attached building design appraisal.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report and attached appraisal.

NB the list excludes:

1. Published works.

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

TITLE FILE

Building Management System reports, Property, Management &

Site surveys and investigations, Information File - PB&R

Architect's plans.

EMP&R1201f