23/01/2012 - Promising start to the year for Stoke BSF

Award winning contractor Thomas Vale Construction is making great progress on four new schools being delivered through the Building Schools for the Future Programme for Stoke-on-Trent City Council totalling a staggering £12 million.

The work on Haywood Engineering College commenced in April 2011, and since then the delivery team has successfully transformed three areas of the school; specialist facilities in the science, performing arts and technology departments.

Currently the team's focus is on delivering a brand new four-court sports hall which is due for completion in June 2012. Groundworks are nearly finished and work on erecting the steel structure of the building is currently underway. The final part of the scheme is the unique learning tower, an iconic and inspirational feature for Haywood Engineering College which was designed by their very own students.

Elsewhere in the city Aynsley Special School is moving forward with the shell of a new sports hall now complete. In the coming months the roof will be installed, plastering and internal fit out will commence and a new floor will be laid. Internal refurbishment of the existing building has started, which includes; fit out, a new floor and decorating.

Other works on the horizon are at St Peters Academy where the removal of asbestos and the termination of any existing services are currently taking place and at Kemball Special School where work is due to begin in March of this year, when the existing building will be transformed to meet the challenges of the 21^st Century.

The overall £250 million investment, will aim to transform 18 schools across Stoke-on-Trent which will include; 13 secondary schools, 4 special schools and one pupil referral unit. The programme intends to improve education for all young people in the city, raise aspirations, provide a stable educational platform for future generations of young people and secure a safe and friendly environment for all students working and living in Stoke-on-Trent.

Paul Clarke, Divisional Director, Thomas Vale Construction commented: “All projects through the Stoke BSF are really starting to take shape. They are all completely different, but all will make a vast difference the teaching and learning environments for both staff and pupils."