Learning in the best buildings available

The learning environment can have a big impact on how pupils respond in lessons. Education Business takes a look at the recent successes of the Priority School Building Programme.

Initially launched in 2011 with a focus on rebuilding and refurbishing the schools in most urgent need of repair, the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP) is managed centrally by the Department for Education’s (DfE) Education Funding Agency (EFA), rather than by local project teams. In the first wave of the programme, 260 schools received capital funding of £2.4bn.

A list of the 277 schools to benefit from the second phase of the PSBP was published on 9 February 2015. Therefore, a total of 537 schools will benefit from construction through the two phases of the PSBP.

Pupils across the country have enjoyed a fresh start for 2016 as they returned to state‑of‑the‑art new school buildings funded through the government’s flagship rebuilding programme at the start of January. Thirteen of the most run-down schools across the length and breadth of the UK are using the new settings to help young people unlock their potential and deliver on the government’s commitment to educational excellence everywhere.

The latest schools will open following over £100 million of construction, with features including bright new classrooms, inspiring libraries and specialist arts facilities.

Building a vision
Camberwell Park School, a special support school in Manchester, is one of those to reopen through the programme following £7 million of construction. The school, which previously suffered regular leaks and was persistently in need of repair, now has bigger, brighter classrooms, a modern music and drama room and a library which looks onto the school’s rainforest garden.

Mary Isherwood, Camberwell Park School head teacher, said: “Since we heard news of our new building, we have been fully involved in the planning and preparation of the building to ensure that it meets the holistic needs of our pupils who all have special educational needs. Throughout the process staff, pupils, parents and carers, governors and members of the multi‑agency team have shared their hopes, wishes, dreams for the new building, helping us to shape the vision.”

The Grove School, a primary in Devon, received its new building following £4 million of work, giving it not only outstanding new facilities but also the capability to increase its capacity from 210 to 315 pupils.

Hilary Priest, head teacher of The Grove School, said: “Everything is different about our new school building. Previously, we had a building which was falling apart, with leaking roofs and buckets everywhere to collect the water. Now we have a beautiful new facility designed for education today, with lovely large classrooms and state‑of‑the‑art technology. Best of all, although the new building is completely different, it still feels like our old school. The staff and pupils love the new building - we have had so many ‘wows’ and many amazingly positive comments from parents.”

From England to Africa
Chantry Academy in Suffolk is one of seven schools across the East of England to be rebuilt as a result of the PSBP. As a result of a £14.3 million investment, the academy’s existing buildings have been replaced with a new three-storey building which provides light, bright classrooms, a superb hall, a drama space and excellent sports facilities.

Ahead of its move into the new building, the school, previously known as Suffolk New College, and Chantry High School before that, donated its old furniture, including desks, chairs, filing cabinets and bookshelves, to Sanchaba School in Gambia. The official grand opening was held with school governors past and present, staff, Ipswich borough council leader David Ellesmere, Baroness Rosalind Scott of Needham Market and MP Ben Gummer, all celebrating the occasion.

Craig D’Cunha, Principal of the Chantry Academy, said: “Over the course of the last nine months we have seen some exceptional progress take place at the academy. Student attainment has improved, and there is a new sense of purpose at the school.

“The new building represents the importance the community places on the futures of the children of Chantry, not only for those who attend the school now, but for the thousands who will pass through its doors in the future. It’s an outstanding building which has already inspired our students to exceed their own aspirations. It will help us ensure the children of Chantry stand out amongst their peers.”

A community project
Ridgeway School in Plymouth is planning to use its government funding to create a new performing arts centre complete with music classrooms, practice rooms, a recording studio, drama studios and a new performance space.

While the space will primarily be used for students, plans have been revealed to open the two-storey centre to the public, following the success of the schools community sports centre.

Other plans for the funding include the resurfacing of the outdoor PE area and new fencing and lighting infrastructure.

School principal Lisa Boorman said: “This funding means we can provide a school to inspire our future generations and one in which the community can be proud of.”

Expansion
Two schools in Canterbury, Aylesham Primary School and Chatham Primary School, are due to expand their buildings in June. Aylesham Primary School will demolish its life‑expired buildings and build a new teaching block while Chartham Primary School will convert existing spaces to provide new computer and music rooms.

There are two buildings at the Aylesham Primary School – an Infant Block dating from 1956 and a Junior Block dating from 1972 which are now in ‘an especially poor and deteriorating condition’. Although the buildings are subject to planning permission, the changes would see the school capacity increase from 412 to 420.

Meanwhile, Chatham Primary School will also increase its capacity from 45 pupils in each year group to 60.

Further Information
www.gov.uk/government/collections/priority‑school-building-programme-psbp