Hampshire County Council

Education Buildings Advisory Group Item

3 January 2003

Executive Member - Education

23 January 2003

Buildings, Land and Contracts Panel

3 February 2003

Executive Member - Policy and Resources

13 February 2003

Warblington Secondary School, Havant

Report by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

1

Summary

1.1

Warblington Secondary School is a large comprehensive school for 11 to 16 year old pupils located in the south east of Havant. The current number of pupils on roll is 928. The school is made up of a number of different blocks of accommodation in varying styles with the most recent developments being an art block and three classrooms infill extension constructed in 1995 and a new drama block completed in 1998.

1.2

An allocation has been made from the 2003/04 New Deal for Schools (NDS) Modernisation fund to enable the reorganisation and refurbishment of the existing design technology and food technology areas of the school. This was approved at the March 2002 meeting of the Executive Member - Education. Additional funding from the Policy and Resources Committee's 2003/04 NDS Condition fund has been provided to replace the existing mechanical and electrical services in other areas of the school. This was approved at the April 2002 meeting of the Executive Member - Policy and Resources. Further allocations from the 2003/04 Policy and Resources NDS Condition fund will be added to this scheme to address the re-roofing works to the technology block and to replace the heating system and associated asbestos removal. The school has also made a contribution from its devolved capital allocation towards these proposals.

1.3

These allocations have been combined to allow one large scheme which will address a number of accommodation and maintenance issues at the school. The significant investment from the NDS Condition fund will minimise future maintenance liability and when combined with the NDS Modernisation and school funding will offer a practical and economic solution to meet the operational needs of the school.

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 seek approval to the attached design project appraisal.

2.

Scope of the Works

2.1

The improved technology accommodation will be achieved by internal modification and modernisation of the existing buildings, no new accommodation will be constructed. The existing accommodation is not considered to be a suitable teaching environment as the classroom layouts are of an open plan `L' shape with small work areas hidden from the main teaching area. The reorganised accommodation will provide the following teaching spaces, each with a large store: three design technology, food technology, textiles, two art and one art textiles. Also to be provided will be a kiln room, technology staff room, technology meeting room, art office, staff and accessible WC and refurbished male and female pupil WCs.

2.2

The whole of the ground floor accommodation will have new ceilings, lighting and floor coverings. The circulation/corridor area will double as an exhibition/display area and roof lights will be fitted to provide natural daylight to this area. The existing fire escape and fire stairwell will be upgraded and new fire resistant doors will be included in the reorganised accommodation.

2.3

Work to the main block of accommodation which houses the main entrance, administration suite and general teaching classrooms will include the removal or encapsulation of asbestos panels, new lighting and upgrade of the fire alarm system.

3.

Funding and Timing

3.1

Funding for these proposals will include £505,000, excluding fees, from the Education Committee's 2003/04 NDS Modernisation fund, £390,000, excluding fees, from the Policy and Resources Committee's 2003/04 NDS Condition fund, along with £181,000, excluding fees, from the School. Further funding of £100,000, excluding fees, will come from the Policy and Resources Committee's 2003/04 NDS Condition Fund (subject to approval by the Executive Member for Policy and Resources). This provides total funding of £1,176,000, excluding fees, for the proposals outlined in this design project appraisal.

3.2

Due to the timescale and the complicated nature of the refurbishment work it is proposed to negotiate this contract with Mansells Plc. This contractor has successfully completed many contracts of this nature for the County Council and has a good working relationship with electrical and mechanical sub-contractors who will be key in the success of this project. It is therefore proposed that the scheme be negotiated with Mansells Plc during February / March 2003.

3.3

It is anticipated that work will commence on site during May 2003 and be completed during September 2003.

Conclusion

The proposed scheme will provide much improved design and food technology accommodation along with upgraded services and enhanced internal decoration to the school. Approval is accordingly sought to the attached building design project appraisal.