Hampshire County Council

Education Buildings Advisory Group

7 May 2002

Executive Member, Policy & Resources Item

13 June 2002

A scheme to form a new Primary School in the premises of Sharps Copse Junior School, Havant

Report by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

1

Summary

1.1

At the October 2000 meeting of the Education Committee it was resolved that notices be published to discontinue Sharps Copse Infant and Junior Schools and establish a new one and a half form entry Community Primary School in the premises of Sharps Copse Junior School. The proposals were approved at the School Organisation Committee in April 2001.

1.2

This followed a review of primary school provision in Leigh Park, which found that surplus places were projected to increase. The projected figures for Sharps Copse Infant school showed that in September 2004 there would be a forecast surplus capacity of 42.9%. Similarly the Junior school showed a forecast surplus capacity 47.7% in the same period.

1.3

The creation of a new Primary school addresses the need to reduce the high forecast number of surplus places in the Leigh Park area. Along side of this the proposals constitute a school improvement proposal within the Leigh Park Education Action Zone which aims to provide the best educational opportunities for children to attain high standards in Key Stages 1 & 2.

1.4

An allocation of £694,000, excluding fees, has been made in the Education Committee's 2002/03 Capital Programme for these proposals and the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services has progressed the design of the proposed Primary school. The purpose of this report is to outline the proposals and seek approval to the attached design project appraisal.

2.

Scope of the Works

2.1

Sharps Copse Infant and Junior Schools currently share a site and a nursery facility exists within the Infant School building. It is proposed that the new Primary school be accommodated in the existing Junior school building and the nursery remain in the Infant school building.

2.2

The Junior school will be extended on three elevations to provide two infant classrooms, a resource area and stores to the north elevation. A Special Educational Needs (SEN) room will be constructed to the south-west corner of the existing building and a third smaller extension will be added to the south-east corner to provide a staff workroom.

2.3

The main school entrance, which is currently located to the east of the building, will be relocated to the northern elevation, which currently accommodates a large open resource area. Due to a slope in the site level the current main entrance is only accessible via steps and by relocating the entrance, level access to the building will be achieved. The new main entrance will comprise an open lobby/entrance area positioned between the reception and administration office to the east and Headteacher's and Deputy Headteacher's office to the west.

2.4

The interior of the building will be re-suited to provide teaching accommodation for Key Stage 2 pupils on the first floor, with Key Stage 1 pupils, specialist and ancillary accommodation on the ground floor. Existing classroom functions will be changed to accommodate the reordering of the building and WC provision for all pupils and staff will be upgraded and reorganised.

2.5

As part of the scheme maintenance and improvements will be undertaken to the building. This will include asbestos removal, the installation of a new electrical sub main cable, electrical supply, complete re-wire of the building and upgrade of the electrical services throughout. A new mechanical ventilation system will be installed to the toilet and kitchen areas, the heating system will be overhauled, the fire alarm system will be upgraded and a lightning protection system added. This work will be funded by a contribution from the Policy and Resources Committee's 2002/03 Capital Repairs budget.

2.6

External works will include the creation of a new pedestrian pathway from the existing main pedestrian entrance to the site leading to the new main entrance of the building. The playground will be divided to allow segregated play areas and an existing garage will be demolished to enable additional and reorganised parking facilities. A canopy will be fitted over the new main entrance and low level planting will be added to the north-west of the building between the entrance and infant classroom extension.

3.

Funding and Timing

3.1

An allocation of £694,000, excluding fees, has been included in the Education Committee's 2002/03 Capital Programme for the new one and a half form entry Primary School. A contribution of £130,000, excluding fees, will come from the Policy and Resources Committee's 2002/03 New Deal for Schools (NDS) Condition Fund along with a contribution of £15,000 from the school.

3.2

The current estimate for these scheme is currently in excess of the available funding. The County Education Officer has agreed, in conjunction with the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services, that the anticipated shortfall in funding will be met from inflation and tolerance.

4.

Procurement

4.1

An early appointment of a preferred contractor would resolve issues regarding programming and phasing and would allow enabling works to be undertaken over the summer holiday period and deliver the project in time for the start of the 2003/04 academic year.

4.2

It is therefore intended to use previous partnering schemes as a framework to quickly agree a first stage tender and programme advanced works at an early stage. This procurement route was recently approved at the 11 April meeting of the Executive Member - Policy and Resources for the Warren Park Sure Start scheme and as both schemes are in the same part of the County and over a similar timescale, it is intended to link the procurement through the same contractor (Brazier Construction Ltd).

4.3

This strategy would achieve buying gains generated by offering larger volumes of work to the Market Place and greater efficiency in dealing with the procurement of both schemes through the same bidding process. In addition it would be possible to agree and resolve any programme and buildability issues by appointing a preferred contractor during the design development stage, establish prices and cost certainty at an early stage and have the facility to undertake key enabling works with a main contractor in place.

4.4

Subject to the necessary approvals it is proposed to carry out a package of enabling works to demolish the garage, undertake the removal of asbestos and carry out some of the work to the mechanical and electrical plant. It is proposed that the enabling works be undertaken during the 2002 summer holiday period in order to minimise disruption to the schools. The main contract will commence on site during September 2002 and be completed during May 2003.

Conclusion

The proposed new Primary School will provide a one and a half form entry Primary school in purpose designed accommodation and will address the need to reduce the high forecast number of surplus places in the Leigh Park area in September 2004. Approval is accordingly sought to the attached building design project appraisal.