Project

The two most recent phases of work were procured through the EMPA Minor Works Framework (EMPA) include:

New classroom and infill extension (£108k)

Refurbishment of office facilities and reception area (£44k)

On the most recent scheme we provided an infill extension to form a new state of the art classroom for up to 30 children. The self contained classroom has provided staff and students with an exceptional educational space including interactive white board and large storage facilities for coats, bags and lunchboxes.

Challenges

• The client had a limited budget and timescale to complete the works.
• The project involved working in a live school environment directly adjacent to the Dining Hall which is used regularly throughout the day for assemblies, rehearsals, Physical Education and lunch times.
• The nature of the site required specific child safeguarding measures to be used with minimal impact on school operations.

Solutions

• Robert Woodhead was involved early in the project and introduced the school to EMPA which enabled a feasibility study to be conducted in order to bring the project in within the clients original budget.
• The project team also met with the Headteacher to conduct a value engineering exercise and achieve the most advantageous outcome for the school. The value engineering exercise led to £20,000 of cost savings and enabled the infill extension to commence.
• Close liaison with the school and an advanced look-ahead programming technique enabled noise generating work to be conducted at specific times to minimise disruption to the schools teaching operations.
• Light sensors have been used to deliver cost savings on energy bills to the school.
• Pupils were engaged in the construction process and a viewing area was set up in an adjacent classroom so pupils could watch the progress of their new classroom safely.

Value for Money

Robert Woodhead suggested bringing the two most recent projects through the EMPA Minor Works Framework to deliver value for money. Introducing the client to the framework enabled the completion of two feasibility studies. We then worked with the client to explore value engineering options to bring the project within budget. The value engineering process saved the client approximately £20,000 which brought the project in budget. In addition, the extension was constructed within a 12 week build time. Achieving the clients 12 week timescale would not have been possible if the school procured the works through traditional tendering.

School Benefits

James Peacock Infant and Nursery School is rapidly growing due to its outstanding OFSTED rating. The School Community now have additional space in the Hall to accommodate 4 additional classrooms for assembly’s, plays and sports lessons which has been a great benefit to the school. Pupils now do not have to leave the classroom as it is fully self contained with toilet facilities and interactive white board and computer suite.

Achievements

• An apprentice joiner was employed to work on the scheme as part of our commitment to training and skills development.
• The self contained classroom has made more space available in the Hall for school activities, 4 additional classes can now be accommodated in the Dining Hall comfortably.
• Maintaining good communication was critical to delivering the project on time and on budget, queries were addressed rapidly to keep the project on course.
• Zero disruption complaints.

Time

Delivered on Time

Budget

Delivered under original Budget

Local Spend & Employment

94% of specialist labour sourced in under 20 miles of the site

180 days of employment for local specialist tradespeople

Feedback

“The project has been exceptional from inception to completion. It has been an absolutely brilliant project, this is our fourth project (with Robert Woodhead) we haven’t got a fifth project in mind yet. If we did have a fifth project then naturally we would want to continue that relationship with Robert Woodhead based on the experience we have had with them already.”

Richard Waldron

Headteacher

“Disruption was kept to a minimum because they accommodated children’s play time, any activities that were going on in the Hall and also getting the deliveries in and out as well, they were always very conscious of the children arriving to and leaving from school.”

Linda Powell

Office Manager