A further consideration of the BSF initiative is the growing pressure schools are under to make sure that their new build and refurbishment projects are meeting new targets for sustainability. Sustainable construction aims to use methods and materials that protect our resources and that will not compromise the health of the environment, those using the building, or future generations. Sustainable school buildings should provide benefits to students, teachers and the local community, but also use less virgin material and less energy, cause less pollution and less waste.
Among the major challenges facing schools is the need to deliver robust, well designed and attractive school buildings within the tight budgetary constraints of the education sector, whilst also satisfying the varying requirements - from the functional needs of staff and pupils, to meeting the green agenda.
However, the first priority when considering undertaking school improvements is often the matter of timing: as it is often not practical to do the work during term time. The absence of pupils for a six week period in the summer provides the ideal opportunity for schools to carry out much needed maintenance work, with everything from routine repairs to more extensive building works scheduled into just a few short weeks. Because of this limited timescale it is vital that planning for summer building and maintenance work is made at an early stage.
It is worth considering that schools up and down the country are all going through a similar exercise, making this time of year the busiest period for contractors. This situation is coupled with the fact that the summer months are also the busiest time for the construction industry in general, taking advantage of the longer days and better weather. The net result of the high level of scheduled work through the summer months leads to an increased demand for skilled contractors in a market place, which already has widely reported skills shortages.
In short, if you don't plan early for the work that you want to be carried out in the summer there may not be the labour available, or the quality of labour and installation may have to be compromised. This can be a particular problem where specialist contractors are concerned, as trying to replace skilled workers with more general building contractors can often lead to issues further down the line. It certainly pays to book the best people for the job as early as possible, both in terms of ensuring a high quality of work and your peace of mind.
The increase in construction work at this time of year also leads to higher demand for building materials and manufacturers are also put under pressure. It is essential that you plan early to ensure that you have allowed adequate lead times for sourcing the right materials. Remember that not all materials are manufactured in the UK. European manufacturers often benefit from lengthy summer shutdown periods themselves, so any orders need to be placed early to ensure they are scheduled into the production runs at the right time to avoid disappointment and last minute panic. This is even more crucial when looking at more specialist or bespoke products, such as sports floors, which are often manufactured to order.
Despite all these concerns, some contractors can work around surprisingly tight deadlines. Digitile, the school mural specialist, is a case in point. "We are able to install a mural in approximately two weeks, so work can be undertaken during a school holiday or even a half-term, thus not causing any disruption to staff and students," says the company's Dominic Crinson.
The Yorkon modular building system manages to minimise disruption to schools by completing much of the work off site. David Johnson, Director and General Manager at Yorkon explains. "Classroom extensions or complete new schools can be constructed up to 50 per cent faster, and because much of the building work takes place off site in the factory, there is much less disruption to teaching. This is an important benefit as most education projects are constructed adjacent to existing school buildings," he says.
Once a timescale has been decided for improvement work, thoughts will invariably turn to costs. Choosing the right products and contractors is essential if costs are to be saved in the long term.
"Don't just look at the initial bottom line price when choosing floor, think about the long-term life cycle costs," advises James Lightly of interior surfaces specialists Altro. "Replacement floors can be very costly, so choosing wisely at the onset is vital. The wrong choice can cost you dearly! There will always be pressure on budgets but paying a little more up front can save a fortune later on, in terms of replacement, cleaning and maintenance and compensation claims should the floor not be fit for purpose. Think carefully about what type of floor will give you the best return on investment in the long term."
David Shaw, Managing Director of BETCO UK, which supplies floor cleaning products agrees. "School floors get really rough treatment especially in winter. So our floor polish must be really hard, inexpensive and very fast drying. Betco Express Hard as Nails dries in five minutes and you can put as many coats as you need in one hour which is what most brands take for one coat to dry. This minimises labour costs and because the product is pre-mixed in a sealed container for the back pack system, there is no wastage or mis-dilution."
With budgets and environmental issues of major concern - wastage should be avoided at all costs. Dominic Crinson from Digitile points out that his company is able to make a huge visual impact, "As we are able to work in any area of a school as the murals are made to measure, which keeps costs down as there is no wastage.
Check with your supplier as to how their products and services impact on the environment, many - such as Yorkon and Altro have worked extremely hard to create products and services that exceed current standards.
"Yorkon steel-framed modular buildings are more thermally efficient than traditional site-based construction and consistently perform up to 70 per cent better than Building Regulations requirements in full-scale independent tests for air permeability - reducing running costs and carbon emissions," says Yorkon's David Johnson, Director and General Manager.
Meanwhile, Altro operates a "6 steps to sustainability" programme (Product Development, Recycling, Carbon Footprint, Energy Saving, Waste Reduction and Social Responsibility). Its high design safety flooring was the first to gain the highest possible BRE A rating for its environmental performance, its packaging is 100% recyclable and it has also developed the world's first recycling machine for safety flooring which means we have now reached a point where 100% of production waste is recycled. The company has also started trials in retrieving and recycling post installation waste.
Finally, schools should be inspirational places for students and staff, as well as environmentally friendly and safe. Aesthetics are also becoming increasingly important in schools, with a growing demand for products, which are both stylish and attractive, without compromising on function. The aim of the BSF programme is to create learning spaces that will bring teaching to life and encourage students to concentrate for longer. If carried out correctly, school improvements can give you a better school as well as better school results.
Could you improve school safety?
With an upgraded Secom intruder alarm system featuring advanced personal attack (PA) buttons - plus CCTV, a well-rehearsed emergency plan and special training for staff and pupils - a London school has set new standards in educational security. Electronic and physical security solutions from leading provider Secom plc are the backbone of a comprehensive security plan introduced at The Japanese School in London, to deal with all eventualities. Commissioning the new alarm system included a mock intrusion, enabling staff to try out their PA buttons and test the emergency plan. Secom plc Managing Director Minoru Takezawa also spoke to pupils about being safe at school and in the community.
School Secretary Shuichi Sugano says prior to installing Secom CCTV and automated gates four years ago, the school had experienced several incidents of minor crime, including thefts of laptop computers. "We have now decided to ask Secom to provide this new comprehensive security system because we have found Secom delivers a more efficient service than other suppliers," he says. "We place the highest priority on the safety of our pupils. I am pleased to have this solution to protect our property at night as well as our pupils and teachers by day. It was very important that Secom worked with us to introduce this training."
