Due to the high demand for sixth-form places at Foxford School and Community Arts Centre in the Longford area of Coventry, four new teaching spaces were required to accommodate an additional 120 students and six new staff members.

Thurston Group was appointed, via the NHS SBS Modular Framework, to design, manufacture, and install a single-storey modular building to accommodate this increase in student admissions.

The challenges

The project needed to be delivered in a live school environment on an extremely-tight site, while adhering to strict contract conditions.

This meant that the build and installation needed to cause as little disruption as possible.

The school is located within a residential cul-de-sac, which is the only access route to the site, and a strict contract condition was that this road was to remain fully operational throughout the works.

Each classroom is equipped with a state-of-the-art Promethius touch-screen monitor

The solution

The scope for the project included four 52sq m classrooms, an office space/staff room with a kitchenette, toilet facilities, storage accommodation, and an entrance canopy.

Each classroom is equipped with a state-of-the-art Promethius touch-screen monitor, which allows teachers and students to interact directly with the on-screen display, enhancing the learning experience.

Access into the building is also Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliant.

The offsite build approach enabled both groundworks and manufacturing to take place simultaneously, increasing the efficiency of the project.

While manufacture of the modules was underway in the company’s factory facilities, the groundworks commenced, involving excavation, foundation construction, new drainage provision, and stats connections to the school’s existing services.

To ensure minimal disruption during the installation, a detailed logistics plan was developed to make sure material and module delivery did not impede on road or school access.

And, to maximise safety for the school and pupils, the modules were installed over a weekend, using a 250-tonne crane.

The team maintained a relationship with the client, Coventry City Council, and set up collaborative meetings with school stakeholders, key supply chain partners, and the council to pass on regular progress updates throughout the project duration.

This meant that when the client’s timescales moved, the team provided flexibility in the module manufacture and installation to meet these requirements.

This partnership approach ensured that the requirements of both Coventry City Council and the school were fully understood and delivered.

Client testimonial

“The new spaces will offer students exceptional learning environments to go alongside their exceptional achievements,” said Councillor Dr Kindy Sandhu, cabinet member for education and skills at the council.

“The project also creates six new highly-skilled job opportunities which is brilliant for those looking for their next teaching role.”