Kirkleatham Hall School

Description

Kirkleatham Hall School is a specialist education provider for pupils from 2-19 years of age who have a wide range of learning difficulties often complex, including those who have Autistic spectrum disorder and those with physical disabilities; many of which use wheel or powerchairs. Identity Consult provided project delivery services for two extensions to the school to build capacity for new students arriving in the Winter term 2022. In addition to this we managed a multidisciplinary design team including  Logic Architecture, Portland Consulting Engineers and JH Partners and procurement of surveys from RIBA stage 2 onwards.  

The school itself, is located in a conservation area with the site an area of national historical and archaeological interest; therefore, early survey work was critical to understand the archaeological and ecological constraints of the site and to acquire relevant licenses for the works. There was also a rigorous review of the survey information during planning stages and the requirement for a formal archaeological strip, map, and record process during the below ground works in each phase; alongside careful planning for the risk of unearthing finds of particular significance.  

The two separate extension areas were phased and sectioned for delivery whilst the building remained a live school site. A dedicated rebound therapy hall, ASD classrooms, therapy-teaching areas, IT office, kitchenette, additional WC and changing facilities with fixed hoists, revised entrance, and staff office locations, alongside a ‘double the existing capacity’ dining hall are provided. A new staff access lit pathway and secure gateway enables parking at the Kirkleatham Walled Garden car park to reduce congestion to the front of the school. 

The pre-contract design and tender phases of this scheme involved tight timescales for delivery, in order to meet the expectations for start on site and the required completion of the classroom extension for the Winter term in 2022. In addition to this, the project had tight funding constraints with contribution from the DFE Basic Needs Gant, High Needs Capital Fund and planning obligation funding and as such Identity Consult worked closely with the team to monitor cost against available budget and value engineer where possible both before and during the works delivery. Managing the post Brexit and Covid-19 material price inflation and supply issues.  

During delivery we managed a number of different issues including finding a number of archaeological finds from the original hall (inclusive of animal remains, small finds, well and an air raid shelter), relocating a maternity follow-on bat roost, tackling several challenges surrounding the live environment and the principal contractor entering into administration.  

In addition to the above project, we supported in two design workshops for Kirkleatham Hall School and Kilton Thorpe Park Specialist School with Southern Green where the pupils had the opportunity to create their own ‘sensory garden’ as part of the Building Our Future programme. 

Testimonial

This was a complex project from the outset given the historic significance of the setting and the extensive nature of the new facilities being provided. The delivered project has provided fantastic enhanced facilities and additional capacity at the school. The construction phase had the potential to be very disruptive to the school’s day to day operations as key areas were taken out of use for the school for extended periods of time. This and the sectional delivery of the scheme meant the team under IC’s direction had to constantly review the impact of delivery and some unavoidable delays. The team successfully minimised the negative impact on the school while dealing with the need at times to revise design and react to emerging issues. IC provided a strong and well resourced presence on the project.

Ian Dunn