Construction is now complete on three new schools in Devon. The £10 million scheme to replace buildings no longer fit for purpose at Ladysmith Junior School in Exeter, South Molton United Church of England Primary School and The Castle School, Tiverton, has been delivered by the Education Funding Authority under the Government’s £4.4 billion Priority School Building Programme.
The Priority School Building Programme has demanding design and construction requirements that need to be achieved within a very tight budget.
“In addition to having to satisfy the educational brief within the budget, each site had its own design challenges.” states Neil Marks, Commercial Director, Clarkebond, “but the project team has worked collaboratively and really gone the extra mile to find a way to make them work. The school staff are absolutely delighted with the results!”
Situated right in the town centre Ladysmith Junior School had restricted access and very limited storage space which required careful planning and construction sequencing. The new school provides 12 classrooms with a spacious hall, library, music and dance studio, ICT room and a kitchen to cook school meals on site. The facilities have also been designed to accommodate community use.
The new South Molton United Church of England Primary School (pictured), has been built on what was a steeply sloping Greenfield site. Careful re-profiling and a balanced cut and fill exercise created a stepped site with flat platforms on which to build the new 10 classroom school with all the same facilities as the Ladysmith Junior School and a playing field which is nearly level with the roof line.
The Castle School, Tiverton, which has just been handed over in time for the new school term in September, is the largest of the three schools with 18 classrooms. The new development has been built in the playground of the former school so that the school could remain open during construction.
Once completed, the old buildings will now be demolished, and a new playground will be created. Special consideration has been given to the treatment of a listed building on the site.
