ITEM CMDSI3
DETAILED PROJECT APPRAISAL APPRAISAL NO. ED 689
NAME OF SCHEME: Fitzwaryn School, Wantage – Phase 1 Replacement of temporary classrooms and internal accessibility improvements
COMMITTEE(S): Cabinet Member for Schools Improvement
START YEAR: 2008/2009
BASIS OF ESTIMATE: Atkins estimate based on agreed sketch scheme.
1. INTRODUCTION
Fitzwaryn School is an outstanding special school (Grade 1 last Ofsted report) and, whilst the numbers on roll have fallen slightly as more pupils with special educational needs (SEN) are included in mainstream schools, the new pupils admitted to the school have more severe difficulties.
The accommodation has suitability and condition issues and 3 classrooms are in old temporary buildings. The building is on three different levels with steps between levels which present significant issues for staff managing pupils with mobility problems. Modernisation is a high priority in the Asset Management Plan.
This first
phase of this modernisation programme is to replace the temporary classrooms
and provide internal accessibility through the school together with a sensory
theatre which is provided as part of the schools recent designation as a SEN
Cognition & Learning College under the Department for Children, Schools and
Families (DCSF) Specialist Schools Programme. A second phase is currently
being developed with the school which will complete the internal modernisation
of the school and provide a new permanent dedicated unit for SEN children aged
16 – 19.
2. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT
The proposed scheme will provide a new extension providing 3 classrooms with storage facilities, three ‘one to one rooms’, a chill out room, sensory theatre with dedicated foyer/entrance, small group classroom, storage facilities, toilet facilities incorporating separate male and female pupil toilets, disabled WC, staff toilet, and hygiene facilities together with ancillary accommodation. The new extension will be accessed via a new link corridor from an enlarged and modernised pupil entrance.
Work in the existing building will create an enlarged pupil entrance lobby with external canopy and a wider corridor into the building with a covered ramped walkway being created in the inner courtyard which will provide accessibility for wheelchair users to more parts of the school accommodation. Externally, the double minibus garage will be relocated and the access road and parking area will be extended to provide a parking zone for taxis and special transport dropping off and waiting to pick up pupils which will create a separation between pupils and moving vehicles. Two of the existing temporary classroom buildings will be demolished and cleared away prior to the construction works and a double temporary classroom will be brought in as ‘decant accommodation’ during the course of the works. The third temporary classroom will be retained temporarily for post 16 age pupils until permanent provision can be provided as part of the phase 2 works.
The scheme has been designed in accordance with DCSF guidelines as set out in the recent revised Building Bulletin 77. The scheme meets the objectives of the County Council’s Corporate Plan by improving the opportunity to enjoy effective teaching and learning.
The scheme has the full support of staff and the school’s governing body.
3. JUSTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT OF NEED
Fitzwaryn School was designed and built to meet a different range of pupil needs to those currently being given places at the school and this raises significant suitability issues with accommodation. Three temporary classrooms were added in the 1970s to increase capacity at the school. These are now beyond economic repair and do not have the necessary toilet and hygiene facilities. The main school buildings are set at different levels that follow the general slope of the ground and the steps between levels present significant difficulties for pupils with mobility problems and for staff attending pupils in wheelchairs.
The number of children with moderate learning difficulties has decreased because of their inclusion on mainstream school sites and, consequently, there has been an increase in children with severe and complex learning difficulties especially the various forms of autism. The suitability of teaching spaces needs to be improved to meet the changing needs of pupils by increasing the area of general classrooms and by modernising the toilet, hygiene and specialist facilities in order to meet the needs of a higher ratio of pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD).
The County’s Asset Management Plan priority is to replace temporary buildings and to remove significant suitability issues together with addressing accessibility issues that exist with the current accommodation. The proposed scheme meets these objectives and is in agreement with the County Council's Corporate Plan priorities to provide sufficient accommodation to enable delivery of the National Curriculum and the County Council’s Children’s and Young People’s Plan which outlines five key outcomes for children and young people: · Enjoying and Achieving · Staying Safe · Economic Wellbeing · Being Healthy · Making a Positive Contribution
4. OTHER OPTIONS
Other options have been considered as follows:
1. to replace the school with a new building on the existing school site – this would provide accommodation fit for purpose and would cost approximately £7m. The cost of this option is in excess of available funding;
2. to replace the school with a new building co-located with the new secondary school planned in Grove - this would provide accommodation fit for purpose and would cost approximately £7m assuming site acquisition costs are equivalent to the sale of the existing site. The timescale of this option has not been established and the additional land would need to be the subject of negotiation with the developers;
3. to replace the secondary element of the school with a new building co-located with the new secondary school planned in Grove - the cost of this option would need to include the costs of land acquisition and the cost of modernising the remaining primary element on the current site – total cost £6m - £7m.
All these options are dependent upon funding and/or site availability and consequently the current need to provide fit for purpose accommodation cannot be achieved in the short-term which would leave Fitzwaryn School with unsuitable accommodation for an undefined number of years. None of these options take into account the firm resolution and wish of the Governors and staff to stay on the current site and not to have the school co-located in whole or in part.
5. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
(i) Capital
The estimated cost of the project inclusive of fees is £2,228,000.
These costs will be met from developer contributions secured under S106 agreements and identified for this school or countywide SEN provision (£10,000), school contribution from their Devolved Formula Capital grant and other school funding (£175,000), DCFS Specialist College Standards Fund Capital Grant (£100,000), minor works provision (£150,000), Targeted Capital Grant for SEN Modernisation (£1,000,000) and the balance of (£793,000) from government loan sanction provided as part of Oxfordshire’s Supported Capital Expenditure allocation.
The scheme is identified in the Capital Programme Forward Plan.
(ii) Revenue
The school will meet day-to-day repair and maintenance costs and structural repairs and staffing costs as part of the Council’s Fair Funding arrangements.
(iii) Risk
Regular risk assessments have been carried out and a Risk Register is maintained to manage, reduce or remove identified risks.
6. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS
The building work will be carried out in accordance with the planning permission issued by the County Council. The design, materials and landscaping will be as specified in the planning consent.
The design provides for natural ventilation and solar shading without depriving the internal areas of natural lighting, as per "Guidelines for Environmental Design in Schools - Building Bulletin 87". The building is expected to receive a "Good" rating in the Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) Pre-Assessment estimation, which allows a quick evaluation of the likely environmental rating a building would achieve under a formal BREEAM Schools assessment.
The sustainability principles applied to the design incorporate the values of comfort, good internal environment (heating, lighting, ventilation) and adequacy to the teaching areas. The existing quality of the site and landscape will be enhanced by re-provision of the same number of trees that will be lost. The scheme takes into account the current services and building features and in so doing will make efficient use of the available resources.
JANET TOMLINSON Director for Children, Young People & Families
SUE SCANE Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Finance Officer
NEIL MONAGHAN Head of Property, Environment & Economy
Contact Officer: John Phipps, Service Manager, Property & Assets, Children, Young People and Families Directorate, Tel: (01865) 816455
March 2008
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