Learning Estate Programme Update ECSPB
Renfrewshire Council · 31 October 2024
Back to Education and Children's Services Policy Board — 31 October 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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To: Education and Children’s Services Policy Board On: 31 October 2024 __________________________________________________________________ Report by: Director of Children’s Services __________________________________________________________________ Heading: Learning Estate Programme Update __________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 Renfrewshire Council is delivering a large-scale investment into the learning estate. This programme of works that are underway includes four major projects to enhance and expand the current estate. 1.2 This report provides an update on the delivery of these projects and insight into the next steps. An update is also provided on three other projects that have been ongoing to enhance current establishments. Projects continue to progress in line with agreed timescales and scope of delivery. The projects covered in this report are as follows: • Paisley Grammar School Community Campus • Park Mains High School extension and alterations • New Dargavel Primary School • Thorn Primary School new build • Dargavel Primary School internal alterations • Bishopton Primary School classroom block • Castlehead High School roof strengthening works __________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1. The Board is asked to note the contents of this report. 2.2. The Board is asked to note the plans to upgrade the sports pitch at Dargavel Primary School to 3G astro turf to support school and community use.
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3. Paisley Grammar School Community Campus 3.1. The project to deliver a new Paisley Grammar School continues with construction progressing on track. A visible structure of what will become the new three storey school and community campus can now be seen from across Paisley. 3.2. The project is due to complete construction in the summer of 2026. From a construction perspective, all work is planned, and regular updates will be provided to this board at significant milestones during the work. 3.3. Whilst construction is the material concept, in order to deliver a new building, an equally important aspect is ensuring that the wider school fit out; operation and transition is planned in parallel with the delivery of the building. Work continues in the planning of all aspects which will contribute to the school operating and delivering in line with the vision. This work is being planned significantly well in advance of the school opening due to the complexity of all work associated with planning, procurement, and execution of aspects, including digital, building and school operations, transition planning of resources and people, amongst other complex workstreams. All of the above support not only the planning of an exceptional building, but the delivery of high quality teaching and learning within. 3.4. Whilst this is ongoing, we are engaging fully with the school community. Work is ongoing with the school parent council as well as all parent councils of associated primary schools. A communications plan is in place that identifies key activities and collaboration opportunities. Our contractor and partner consultants are also planning and already undertaking a programme of valuable community benefits and engagement. 3.5. Representation was made at the recent ‘Renfrewshire Employability Week’ from our contractor and key consultants, and activity is underway to support Paisley Grammar School pupils with site visits to view the construction first hand. 4. Park Mains High School Extension & Internal Alterations 4.1. The project to extend and enhance Park Mains High School is progressing through design stages with an initial concept design being created. The procurement process to appoint a main contractor for the final design and construction is also underway. This complex process is expected to complete in early 2025, where the successful contractor will be appointed. 4.2. Following the appointment of a contractor, a period of roughly one year will be required to finalise all design, planning permission and market testing to arrive at a final construction contract sum. This will then allow the planned construction and handover period to commence to deliver by the summer of 2027. This process will comprise extending the current school as well as significant internal interventions to enhance the current school footprint by maintaining subject adjacencies and implement sufficient building provisions.
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4.3. The project has now progressed to the next required stage of statutory consent, where a proposal of application notice (PAN) has been submitted to the planning authority. This process triggers a statutory period of consultation where two public information events will be held to inform the school and local community of the intention to submit a planning application. Communication has been issued to local community groups and parents and carers at Park Mains and its associated primary schools to inform of the process and the events. 4.4. The events will be held as follows: • Event 1 – Wednesday 7th November 2024, 5-8pm, Park Mains High School • Event 2 – Wednesday 4th December 2024, 5-8pm, Park Mains High School 4.5. The events are open to all, and the project team will be in attendance with relevant council officers to discuss the project with the public and school community. This process will inform the ongoing design of the project and will support the planning application process. 5. New Dargavel Primary School 5.1. Communication and engagement on the delivery of the new primary school in Dargavel Village has been a key focus in recent months. This has been used to continuously inform the design of the new school, whilst understanding what is important to the school community, local residents and wider stakeholders. 5.2. To inform the above, a series of focus groups have taken place to inform the design and operation of the new school. The following focus groups have been established: • New school design • Traffic and transport • Additional support needs • Staff • Pupil voice 5.3. These focus groups have been supported by two public events as part of the PAN process for the planning application for the new school. Two events were held in Dargavel Primary School across August and September where circa 80 people attended to discuss the development. These events were open to all, and were publicised via all usual council communication channels as well as direct text message to all signed up to the Dargavel newsletter, parents and carers of pupils in the current Dargavel Primary School, email to the parent council, a dedicated website update, posters in the local area, and direct communication to all local community groups and stakeholders. 5.4. The project team and senior council officers were in attendance, and were supported by the architect, construction contractor, and the Council’s delivery
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partner Hub West Scotland. These events allowed the public to attend and give their views on the development whilst engaging in communication to answer queries, concerns, or inform their knowledge of what the development would deliver. 5.5. All views have been noted and taken on board to assist in shaping the new primary school. The overall feedback was extremely positive about the design and concept of the new school, particularly regarding community facilities and what it would offer to the local area. However, concerns remain about the impact of traffic and the transport network which is, and will continue to be, a key consideration of the project. 5.6. One of the main topics of discussion was the drop-off and pick-up facilities at the new school. It should be recognised the project is being designed to standards in excess of those stipulated by planning and national guidance. This means more parking and drop-off facilities than are required will be implemented, in recognition of the individual circumstances within this development. 5.7. To assist in identifying the true position to establish an independent view of how the local area will perform from a traffic and transport perspective, the Council is in the process of commissioning a detailed traffic assessment of the area. This assessment will progress on the findings of any previous reports undertaken and will model the transport flow of the area when there are two schools in operation, as well as an increase in traffic for secondary schools leaving the local area at peak times. This is a mandatory process of the planning application, and we have brought the timing of this forward to help us develop a deeper understanding of how traffic will operate, as well as plan any appropriate mitigations. 5.8. It is important to recognise Renfrewshire Council are not the landowner of the wider Dargavel area and are not responsible for designing or implementing the road network of the local masterplan. Council officers are in regular dialogue with BAE Systems who own and are responsible for the design and installation of the road network, to ensure that any influence on improvements can be given. Full findings of the traffic assessment will also be used to inform these discussions. 5.9. From a school design perspective, work is ongoing as planned, and the formal planning application is scheduled to be submitted by the end of October 2024. This will allow the project to continue to progress through the next stage of detailed design, and with the main contractor who will construct the building already on board, this process will be at an advantage to allow works to begin efficiently in late summer 2025. 6. Thorn Primary School New Build 6.1. The project to deliver a new Thorn Primary School remains at the early design stage with work ongoing to focus on key outputs of the project including client requirements, sustainability objectives, and general layout concepts of the school grounds. 6.2. Engagement and input has been received from the school community and key stakeholder groups and this process will continue through more detailed design stages.
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6.3. A recent exercise has been undertaken with school pupils to understand their views on what is important about the school design and what they would like to see in the new building. This is an important step to gaining feedback from our children who will receive learning and life experiences from these projects. 6.4. An engagement session with elected members will also be planned to provide information on the project timeline, key stages, and show current concepts. The plan remains to deliver this school in 2028. Whilst the overall output is a relatively small school in comparison to other projects, this is a complex project with factors such as scheduling demolition of current building and transitioning the school to the new building in a safe and efficient manner around school calendars. 7. Dargavel Primary School Internal Interventions 7.1. Work to deliver internal interventions to improve acoustics at Dargavel Primary School was undertaken during the summer break. 7.2. This work was successfully completed, and feedback has been very positive about the improvements delivered. 7.3. Following representations from the community through various engagement forums, there has also been clear demand for the sports pitch at the current Dargavel Primary School to be upgraded to provide much needed facilities suitable for the community and local sports clubs. Following this feedback, the Council has undertaken assessment and is now able to proceed with upgrading the sports pitch at the school. Work is being planned to upgrade the facility in spring 2025, to create a 3G playing surface that will be suitable for lets out of school hours and weekends. 8. Bishopton Primary School Classroom Block 8.1. This project has delivered a new permanent building at Bishopton Primary School which comprises of two modern classrooms. These classrooms replace an old modular unit that had been at the school for a number of years. 8.2. These classrooms are in use and are proving to be an excellent asset to the school. Throughout the summer break, works have also been undertaken to significantly improve the aesthetics of the main school building. 9. Castlehead Roof Strengthening Works 9.1. Work to provide strengthening to the roof of the PE block of Castlehead High School has been ongoing throughout the summer break and has completed in early October. 9.2. This vital work has ensured the safety of all building users and also delivered improvements in the form of new lighting to all areas. Communications have been issued to parents at the school to make them aware. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of this report
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1. Financial All projects are costed and included in Council financial planning. Projects are bound by rigorous governance including budget management and reporting. 2. HR and Organisational Development None. 3. Community/Council Planning Our Renfrewshire is thriving - New, and improved, learning estate assets will allow our children and young people to thrive with the best possible infrastructure to support their school experience. Staff, and community users will benefit from modern and inclusive environments. Reshaping our place, our economy and our future - The learning estate shall be appropriately scaled and equipped to meet curriculum expectations and deliver an appropriate learning and teaching experience for all. 4. Legal None. 5. Property/Assets These projects will deliver significant improvements to the learning estate, extending the life of assets, and improving the experience of young people, staff, and the wider community. 6. Information Technology Digital improvements will be delivered through the learning estate strategy, where access to technology for all, will be a key priority for projects. 7. Equality and Human Rights The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report. If required following implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored, and the results of the assessment will be published on the Council’s website. 8. Health and Safety None. 9. Procurement
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Any procurement work required will be conducted in collaboration with the Council’s Procurement team, and adhere to appropriate regulations. 10. Risk All projects are bound by rigorous governance and supported by detailed risk registers. Risk is reported and managed at various levels with scrutiny applied to ensure mitigations and contingency plans are in place. 11. Privacy Impact None. 12. Climate Risk New, and improved, learning estate assets will directly contribute to the Council’s journey towards net zero. Sustainability is a key concept of all projects. 13. Children’s Rights When considering any future school provision, the impact this will have on children is a key consideration, and any work will be based around the direct needs of children to allow their education experience to thrive. Whilst children have a right to choose where they wish to attend school in collaboration with their parents, the council’s admissions policy applies to ensure that schools that are oversubscribed can be managed. 14. Cosla Policy Position None. Children’s Services JL/JO Oct 2024 Author: Jack Lochans – jacklochans@renfrewshire.gov.uk