Hampshire County Council

Education Buildings Advisory Group

4 July 2002

Executive Member, Policy & Resources Item

12 September 2002

Balksbury Junior School, Andover

Report by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

1

Summary

1.1

Balksbury Junior School shares a site with Balksbury Infant School and is situated in a residential area in the west of Andover. The Junior School is a feeder school for John Hanson Secondary School, the site of which lies to the west.

1.2

In 1999 Balksbury Junior School was extended by one classroom and a link to provide additional basic need accommodation. This work was funded from the Education Committee's Minor Works Capital Programme. This school now requires further additional basic need and Key Stage 2 accommodation.

1.3

In order to realise the proposals outlined in this design project appraisal funding of £203,000, excluding fees, from the Key Stage 2 Initiative, has been added to the Education Committee's 2002/03 Capital Programme along with £259,000, excluding fees, for additional basic need places. Further funding of £43,000 will come from the school and £149,000, excluding fees, from the Education Committee's 2003/04 Modernisation funding, subject to the review of 2003/04 priorities of the Modernisation funding in January 2003.

1.4

The Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services has progressed the design of the proposed additional accommodation and the purpose of this report is to outline the design proposals and financial framework and seek approval to the attached design project appraisal.

2.

Scope of the Works

2.1

It is proposed to extend the school by three classrooms to the northern elevation of the existing building. The single storey extension will form a line of accommodation from north to south and a new link corridor will provide access to the three teaching areas. Dedicated cloak areas for each of the classrooms will be provided within the link corridor.

2.2

To the east of the proposed classroom development a smaller extension is to be constructed to the northern elevation of the school. The extension will enable the existing entrance, reception area and administration office to be enlarged. The administration office will have views over the new entrance and main pedestrian approach route to the building.

2.3

A third extension will be constructed to the rear of the building adjoining an existing classroom. The extension will provide a Resource/IT Room, which will be accessed via an existing corridor and the existing staff room will be extended and a small staff work room created.

2.4

The existing library is positioned between the new staff room and IT room to the south and the reception and administration office to the north. It is proposed, as part of this scheme, to reconfigure the library to accommodate the new accommodation and refurbish the area.

2.5

External works associated with this scheme will include modification of the existing pedestrian pathway and area adjacent to the new main entrance and low level planting to these areas. Three additional car parking bays will be created in an existing car parking area to the east of the school building.

3.

Funding and Timing

3.1

The current estimated cost of the proposed scheme is £654,000, excluding fees. Funding for these proposals is as follows:

Education Committee's 2002/03 Capital Programme * 259,000

Key Stage 2 Initiative 2002/03 203,000

School: Devolved Capital 43,000

Education Committee's 2003/04 Modernisation funding * 149,000

TOTAL 654,000

* subject to approval

3.2

Subject to the necessary approvals it is anticipated that tenders will be invited during September 2002. Work will commence during January 2003 and be completed during August 2003

Conclusion

The proposed scheme will provide the required additional accommodation required for Key Stage 2 and Basic Need along with IT accommodation and improved reception and administration facilities. Approval is accordingly sought to the attached building design project appraisal.