Katherine Renshaw, former head teacher at Highcliffe Primary School, takes a look at the key considerations for a new school build
When I started as headteacher at Highcliffe Primary School in Leicester in January 2016, I was excited to be bringing my 10 years’ experience working in education to the 425-pupil school. I soon realised, however, that I would need to quickly develop a whole new set of skills as in my first few days on the job, I was presented with plans for a new school build that had been commissioned by the DfE and was to be delivered by Spatial Initiative.
Overall, the experience was a really positive one and the joy which the new building brought to staff, pupils and the community was palpable. I must admit, however, that as Head Teacher, at times, it was also quite stressful as everyone was looking to me for guidance and answers to something I had never done before!
I learned a lot on the job and I think for any school or headteacher, there are a number of key pieces of advice I would give to ensure the smooth running of an education project.
The advice includes:
- Advance planning: I cannot emphasise the importance of this point enough! We did a huge amount of advance planning to prepare for the delivery of the new building in a live school environment. Many pupils and teachers had to move rooms temporarily and two classes relocated completely to a nearby school for the duration of the build. This involved organising transport for pupils and teachers on a daily basis and reworking the flow of the school to avoid areas that were out of bounds. We ensured that all pupils and teachers were adjusted to the new routine one month in advance of site works commencing in order to ensure the smooth running which really paid off.
- Communication: Another key aspect is the importance of clear communication throughout the project. This included communication with staff and teachers, and understanding that moving their classroom and pupils can be a stressful experience. We involved them in every stage of the process and sought their input at an early stage to ensure that they were invested in the project. It also included communicating with the local community and parents about the stages of the project, inviting them to open days and giving them my contact details for any queries. Finally, I found developing a strong relationship with the site team and project manager was key in facilitating the smooth running of the project.
- Delegation: This is something which I think many head teachers struggle with but it is essential to know our limits, as one person cannot single handily run a school while overseeing an enormous new build project. I had a core team who worked with me on the logistical elements of the project throughout, and who were central to the continued operation of the school.
- Make it a learning experience for children: Our schools should always offer a learning environment and a new school build is something many pupils will never have the chance to see. We engaged with pupils throughout the project setting art tasks, question time and site visits (at a safe distance, of course) to give them the opportunity to learn from something happening right on their doorstep.
- Planning to move in: Finally, it is so important to realise that the work does not end when the new school is built! It is so important not to overlook the planning that is involved in moving into the new building. We were really keen to have all of our staff agree on what the new school should feel like and look like once it was occupied so we had regular meetings to discuss and agree. This included planning the logistics for how children would come and go in the morning, the lunchtime logistics and the flow of the school. But you also need to decide on the school’s policy when it comes to placing items on walls and windows. Everything is so perfect and new and you have a chance to introduce procedures to keep it that way as long as you can!
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