21/10/10 - Work starts on new primary schools

The development of state-of-the-art accommodation at Oak Meadow and Bushbury Hill primary schools began last month, and already the ‘footprints’ of the new buildings are visible.

The work is being carried out as part of the Primary Capital Programme, which is transforming education for primary age pupils in Wolverhampton by giving them learning environments fit for the 21st century.

Oak Meadow Primary School will get a new £7m facility while Bushbury Hill Primary School will benefit from new a new building costing £5.3m.

Award-winning contractor Thomas Vale Construction is busy preparing both sites ready for the main construction work to begin.

Kevin Zamur, Contracts Manager at Thomas Vale Construction said: “We are extremely pleased to be working with Wolverhampton City Council on the new School sites.

They will be some of the first School's to be constructed to the Passive House standard in the UK.

We are looking forward to working closely with the design team, WCC and the School to deliver a real flagship project which we can all be proud of.

The two construction areas have been secured with hoarding and temporary site offices have been brought in. Meanwhile the construction footprint of both buildings has been established and prepared ready for piling works to form the foundations which will get underway this week. Temporary site access for construction vehicles at Oak Meadow has also been created.

The buildings, which have been designed to meet each school’s individual educational visions, will be ready for the autumn term 2011. The existing school buildings will then be demolished.

The new schools will benefit from state-of-the-art ICT facilities and be constructed using natural materials. The eco-friendly nature of the buildings will extend to a natural ventilation system controlling the internal temperature and also special insulation to minimise heat waste.

The new Bushbury Hill Primary School will also have a new playground and multi-use games area and an on-site crèche.

Councillor Christine Mills, Wolverhampton City Council’s Cabinet Member for Schools, said: “I am delighted that two more of our primary schools will benefit from the Primary Capital Programme which is providing learning environments that engage and inspire young children, their teachers and the wider community.

“The architects, Architype, worked with Thomas Vale Construction on the award-winning St Luke’s Primary School in Blakenhall, and we hope that they will be able to create two more award-winning schools for our young people.”

She added: “Both these new buildings will transform the way that teaching and learning takes place.”

Oak Meadow Primary School headteacher Sarah Morris said: “We are delighted to be part of the Primary Capital Programme and to benefit from a new school. Everyone involved is looking forward to seeing our new school take shape over the coming months.

“We have worked with pupils, staffs, governors and the local community to have our say on the design and we firmly believe that we are creating a 21st century school with the facilities to inspire and engage all pupils.”

The developments are being funded through the Primary Capital Programme, which is investing a total of £16.6m in the modernisation of schools around the city and has already seen modernisation work carried out at Warstones, Bilston and St Alban’s Church of England primary schools and Stow Heath Infant and Junior Schools.