Progress Report

This page provides progress reports on the new buildings project.

Below, you can view a video image of the building of the new Infants' School - the picture is refreshed every 3 seconds.

New Beech House

• Following consultation with parents and children the name of the Infants' School will remain as Beech House

• As can be seen, the steel frame is now being erected following the completion of all preparation ground works and foundation piling - it is now starting to take shape and resemble a building. Roof slates and brickwork will follow very quickly to obtain a secure seal before the worst of the autumnal weather arrives

• A foundation stone is being laid on 12 December 2008 by the former Chairman of Governors, Sir Alan Cockshaw, and arrangements are being made regarding the official opening in the Autumn Term 2009

• As and when the site is a bit cleaner, the Infant School staff can visit to see the space they will occupy.
  

Boys' Junior School

• Phase one is complete, subject to some minor external works and the usual snags – this provides a permanent extension to the main school comprising two year six classrooms, storage facilities, staff/visitor toilets and a kitchen/dining hall

• The reconfigured reception area and office accommodation was ready in September – the electronic bi-fold entrance doors will be installed shortly

• Additional temporary accommodation arrived during the half term holidays and provides changing rooms on the playground and a staff room at the front of the school

•  Demolition of the large temporary unit should occur on 15 November 2008

•  Phase two will commence after the demolition of the large temporary unit and will create changing rooms, pupil toilets, staff and resources accommodation, alongside improved classroom space.….clearly, a challenge whilst the school is in session.

New Girls' Junior School 

• The Governors have decided to proceed to the next stage – detailed design, which enables the scheme to be quoted and the estimates of £5M+ market tested. It is hoped the current economic climate will improve the prices. 

• Over the coming months, a series of consultation sessions will occur with the Girls’ junior staff. 

•  As yet, no name has been decided for the new building.

General

• The Nursery, the new Beech House and the Boys' Junior School are all now connected to the main school computer network and telephone system, following the installation of channels across both public carriageways, Dobson Road and Park Road.

• The Local Council is finalising the highway management measures on both Dobson Road and Park Road, following a period of consultation with the residential neighbourhood. It is likely there will be raised table platforms and kerb build outs at the top of each street connecting to Chorley New Road, with the aim of making pedestrian crossings much safer, however, this will be at the final stages of the project.

• A Risk Register is continually developed to identify/mitigate/control some of the potential problem areas, e.g. ground conditions, inclement weather, supply chain delays, utility connections etcetera. Already, we have benefited from Seddons’s input to these issues and cost savings through their contacts. 

• The development programme has been scheduled and aligned with future school calendars in an attempt to find the least disruptive route. Additionally, the Design Team is developing the critical path with Seddons. The phasing of each element is covered in the Business Plan.

• The Project’s business plan and regular updates have been thoroughly analysed by the Project Team and the Finance Committee. Responsibility of the cost plan rests with the Project Team, whilst the funding and cash flows with the Finance Committee, who act as overall monitoring agent.  The funding flows have been revised in order to generate additional income to meet the increase in expenditure.

• Regular reporting and examination of out-turn cost projections have been instituted in order to ensure that the risk of cost overrun is continually reviewed and necessary actions taken.  Some areas of the cost plan are not covered in the Agreed Maximum Price, but as provisional sums, so they are being examined and resolutions are being pursued.

• Project meetings have continued to occur on a regular basis with the Lead Consultant, the Architect, and relevant specialists from his team with governors Messrs. Oldershaw and Byrom, and the Clerk & Treasurer.  Other sessions are organised as and when needed as detailed below.