New Build
Update 6 August 2010.
Today the Education Minister announced that Strathearn School new build is to progress in this financial year. Work had been on target to start in April 2010 but that was suspended in February because of economic cut-backs.
We are absolutely delighted that we can now progress to tender in this financial year. This is much better than we could have hoped for having anticipated funds not likely to become available until 2011-12. With so many schools requiring building and refurbishment work we are delighted that the needs of Strathearn have been recognised in this way and that a project which began in February 2003 will finally be coming to fruition.
This is a great boost for the school community and we look forward to taking possession of new and expanded facilities.
D Manning
Update on New Build
26 March 2010
Dear Parents
Re. New School Build
With this letter I will bring everyone up to date with our building project for which all the drawings are complete and planning permission was approved in January 2009.
Our New Build is planned in two stages with only the Sports Hall and Technology block retained. The first phase consisting of 34 classrooms is to be built where the Assembly Hall and lower car park is currently situated. When complete, the remainder of the classrooms, administration block, canteen, library, assembly hall and music, drama and ICT suites will be built on the current site. In addition the Technology block will be refurbished and extended and the Sports Hall will be refurbished and extended to include a gymnasium, fitness suite and additional changing rooms. The contract is expected to take three years in total. When we are ready to build I will be giving more detailed information.
As you are aware, last summer we took possession of new mobile accommodation, paid for by the Department of Education, in preparation for the building work to start on our new school. We are really delighted with the standard of these buildings and the extra room it gives us all.
In January 2010 an advert seeking contractors to apply to build our school (at approximately £18.5m) was placed by the Department of Education in the European Journal of contracts. Submissions were made and a small number of contractors were identified who were to be asked to tender for the work. Unfortunately this is where the process has been stopped - before going to tender.
I have been informed by the Department of Education that it has no money to start new works in the 2010/11 financial year. Its budget will only cover work currently on site although we have been told to plan for a start in 2011/12. Much work has gone into our project to get it to this stage and I am very disappointed, especially when just a few months ago we were anticipating an Easter 2010 start date. I am working with the Department to ensure that there are no obstacles to a 2011 start. I am concerned that the budget for 2010/11 has not been finalised, and therefore the resources for 2011/12 are difficult to determine, but I do take much comfort from the fact that the Department has already shown confidence in our project by investing £540,000 in the accommodation we received last summer.
Strathearn is much more than its buildings but we continue to work to obtain facilities that match the aspirations and interests of our students. I will provide further information when available but that is unlikely to be before the start of next year.
Thank you for your continued interest.
Principal
Timeline
Below is a timeline of the key dates in the process with
February 2003 - Department of Education approved funding for a new school on the current site
March 2003 - EC Harris appointed as Project Managers
August 2003 - Samuel Stevenson and Son appointed as Architects and work begins on the design of the school
September 2004 - Outline plans (stage C) submitted to the Department of Education for approval
June 2006 - Outline plans approved which allowed work to begin on final drawings
January 2007 - Stage D plans submitted to the Department of Education for approval
September 2007 - Final approval of plans (stage D) given by the Department of Education
November 2007 - Planning Application submitted
January 2008 - Planning application submitted for Temporary Accommodation necessary for construction of Phase 1
January 2009 - Planning Approval granted
July 2009 - Temporary Accommodation brought on site
Now awaiting for Phase 1 to start and this includes the main 35 room classroom block, the fitness suite and additional changing rooms. Phase 1 is scheduled to take 18 months to complete.
Phase 2 includes reception and administrative accommodation, more classrooms, assembly hall, library, an additional Gymnasium, astro-turf hockey pitch, canteen, and sixth form accommodation. It is also scheduled to take 18 months.
