Sixth form centre to complete in months using recycled parts

Recycled building modules to be used for expansion of top-performing secondary school

Posted by Stephanie Broad | March 28, 2016 | Bricks & mortar

• #sixth-form-centre
• #recycled-materials
• #school-buildings
• #foremans-relocatable-building-systems
• #portakabin-group
• #higham-lane-school
• #construction

Foremans Relocatable Building Systems, a member of the Portakabin Group and the UK’s largest supplier of refurbished Portakabin buildings, will build a £1.6 million purpose-designed sixth form centre at Higham Lane School in Nuneaton.

Higham Lane is the joint highest-performing state-funded secondary school in Warwickshire, and has performed within the top 100 of all secondary schools in England. The new building, which is now under construction, will allow the school to provide a direct post-16 progression route for its students for the first time, maintaining standards and outcomes far above national levels.

The sixth form centre will be built by Foremans using 52 recycled and refurbished steel-framed modules. The two-storey building will be delivered in less than six months from receipt of order to be open in time for the school’s first intake of sixth form students in September this year. Cranage of the refurbished modular structure is being timed for the school holidays to minimise any disruption to teaching.

The building will feature large amounts of glazing for a high level of natural light, with brick cladding to complement neighbouring facilities, and areas of bright red rainscreen cladding to reflect the school’s colours.

Commenting on the project, Ben Elliott, Director of Corporate Services at Higham Lane School, said: “There is a shortage of quality sixth form provision in our area and feedback from students has indicated a strong preference to stay on and study for A-levels at Higham Lane School.”

“The Foremans pre-owned approach offers us significant benefits – it is very cost effective and the building will look brand new once it is completed. It is giving us more certainty to have the new sixth form up and running by September because the majority of fitting out takes place off site.”

Martin Hier, Director at Surveyors to Education, said: “The school wants this to be a statement building which will also blend in well with existing facilities. It is designed to meet the specific requirements of sixth form learning, which includes teaching spaces to accommodate smaller groups.”

“We would definitely recommend recycled modular buildings to other schools and colleges. The approach is very sustainable because we are re-using an existing building structure - which is still in perfect condition, and at the same time we can reduce lead times and carbon emissions.”

The Higham Lane sixth form centre will accommodate up to 300 16-19 year-old students and will have 17 seminar rooms, an art room, two science laboratories, and common room with café area.

www.foremansbuildings.co.uk