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Blackfen School for Girls

Blackfen School for Girls

Raising aspirations - releasing potential

New Building

The new teaching accommodation block has been completed and the school is now fully occupying all the rooms. This project was awarded to the school via the ESFA Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) where the school submitted a bid justifying the reason for the bid.  In our circumstance we were able to justify this by removing 3 demountable buildings that were nearing end of life and had out of date heating, cooling and environmental safety and security systems and visually not in keeping with the rest of the school.

The project completed 7 months later than the original finish date due to COVID-19. This is still a great achievement by the contractor considering the 3 breaks in the project due to COVID-19 lock-downs and manufactures constraints on products. The feedback from staff and students is very positive with the up to date systems controlling the environment and a modern environment to aid teaching and learning.

The new building houses 8 classrooms, 3 offices, 1 training/meeting room, a toilet area and storage facilities. This has shown the school's commitment to its staff and students and will be a welcome addition to the school, especially for prospecting parents and students wanting to come to Blackfen in the future. The 3 demolished buildings were Drama, Science lab and Textiles.  Along with the new build, we refurbished 2 new Drama rooms and a Science Lab (see images below) and was able to move Textiles closer to the faculty.  By aligning subjects to bring them closer to their faculties has eased the burden on staff and students having to walk a long way across the school to get to their next lesson.

 

Existing drama huts

 

Drama huts being removed from the school

 

Securing the new project with a wooden hoarding

 

 

Marking out for piling

 

Piling rig in action

 

Ground works

 

 

Internal walls being erected

 

New classroom

 

 

External brickwork being laid

 

New building attached to the existing 1937 building

 

Front view of existing and new building

 

Vehicle turning circle and parking bays

 

Back of the existing and new building

 

 

Back of the new building leading on to the grass quad

 

New classroom

 

 

Back entrance to new building with accessible ramp

 

Refurbished drama room

 

New Science laboratory

 

New staff room