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ITEM EX13

EXECUTIVE - 3 APRIL 2002

Education Capital Projects

OUTLINE PROJECT APPRAISAL APPRAISAL NO. ED583

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT

This project provides for 7 replacement science laboratories at the school. It will also include a large prep room of 105m², boiler room, toilets, chemical store, cleaners’ cupboard, greenhouse and staff room. The current proposal is that there will be a single storey building with 2 wings providing the potential for enclosure of the central area.

It is proposed that there should be a refurbishment of the existing science labs by converting the 7 science labs into 6 classrooms with the prep room and one laboratory providing much needed social space within the school. This will allow the mathematics department to relocate into these rooms. The maths department is currently accommodated in adjacent sub-standard rooms.

JUSTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT OF NEED

As part of the Asset Management Plan process suitability assessments were undertaken on all schools within the County and each teaching space given a rating on a range from A to D (A being the worst in terms of room suitability). Funding of £5m from Government grant through NDS Modernisation has been made available to Oxfordshire and a prioritisation process has taken place in consultation with the Asset Management Plan Consultation Group. Matthew Arnold School was found to have the highest number of B category needs in relation to school pupil numbers and it had been agreed that, by providing replacement science labs, this would have the biggest impact in reducing suitability needs at the school and in reaching the targets within the Asset Management Plan. This approach is more likely to have an impact in raising standards at the school.

Resource Appraisal (download as .rtf file).

OTHER OPTIONS

An option appraisal has been carried out in looking at overcoming the school’s problems. Although more expensive, the new build option would be significantly less disruptive to the school and provide better facilities in the long term. A minimal refurbishment of the existing science labs to provide new classrooms and social space also provides better accommodation for mathematics which is currently located in a suite of rooms some of which are below normal size requirements.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

1. Capital

The initial costs identified are £1.5m inclusive of fees and will be met from government grant through NDS Modernisation.

2. Revenue

Day to day revenue costs will be met through the schools Fair Funding budget.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS