St Andrew’s Catholic School

Consulting | Design

St Andrew’s Catholic School, Leatherhead, Surrey

Client: Surrey County Council

Project overview

The project involved building a new classroom block (800m2), a (602m2) extension and the refurbishment of existing buildings (522m2) at the 1,500 pupil school. A two-storey extension provides classrooms and offices and a new two-storey building houses food technology, ICT, business studies rooms and a new drama studio. Phases one and two were carried out to a tight deadline during the summer holidays.

The existing 1950s classrooms were stripped back and converted to state-of-the-art pupil-ready science laboratories, ICT classrooms, a music, and a drama studio. Phase three saw a standalone classroom block converted to provide new construction, design and technology teaching spaces. For phase four, a new-build extension added two 400m2 floors with nine new english and history classrooms, two offices and two sets of toilets. Finally, phase five of the project saw the demolition of the school’s Woodlands Building and the construction of a new two-storey block.

Performance against specification

Norse Group maintained the delivery programme and updated it as the project progressed. Careful consideration was given to sequencing and phasing to minimise disruption to the operation of the school. Project specific specifications were produced by Norse Group comprising products, materials, methods of installation and quality of workmanship informed by our understanding of Surrey County Council expectations and briefing.

Very few substitutions were proposed by the main contractor, but prior to approval, Norse Group ensured alternatives were of equal quality to specified products and were either cost-neutral changes or a saving to the project. Project scheme total costs are projected to be within budget.

Providing accurate information

To keep stakeholders informed, we produced updated cost estimates at each RIBA stage. We produced monthly cashflow forecasts from RIBA stage 2 on total project cost, updated to reflect expenditure to date. Post contract, we produced monthly cost reports and conducted monthly meetings with contractor’s QS and site manager to review variations and expenditure against provisional sums / quants / contingencies.

Norse Group’s transparent and accurate cost reporting allowed the client to instruct additional works to benefit the end user when it was apparent there would be available funds.

Communication with stakeholders

Regular meetings were conducted with the school management team throughout the project. We were able to adjust the phasing of the project to suit the school accommodation needs to deliver the school curriculum and ease the pressure on key exam dates.

Social value and innovation

Social value requirements were included in the tender documents and were monitored in monthly site meetings.

We worked closely with the contractor to make environmentally conscious decisions, including re-using quality materials that were set aside from the existing building demolished and re-using bricks to form the retaining wall.

Specialist rooms, such as new science labs, drama studios, food rooms and a design technology workshop were fitted with innovative products and systems to provide an inspiring twenty-first century learning environment.

Close liaison with the school throughout helped avoid impacting the school.