Property design and management consultants, NPS South West based in Exeter, hand-over Phase I of a new Maths Block at Exmouth Community College. The 2.5m project was constructed by Interserve, with Hamson Barron Smith (HBS), part of the NPS Group, as design and management consultants, providing building surveying; structures and civils, and building services design.

Construction of the 902 square metre, two-storey detached block for the new maths department was funded under the Education Funding Agency (EFA); Condition Improvement Fund; Devon County Council and Exmouth Community College. Exmouth Community College is one of the largest secondary schools in the UK with 2,400 students. The new building at was constructed on the site of the old stable blocks and workshop and replaced the existing poor quality buildings with a modern elegant building.

Extensive demolition, asbestos removal and external works also formed part of the project. NPS provided a multi-disciplined service – architecture; building services; structural, and civil engineering; quantity surveying; project management and health & safety management (CDMA), for the whole of the project, including site master planning and overall support for the EFA Bid. The project was built by Interserve and successfully delivered on time and within budget.

Chris Jay Director of Design and Maintenance – NPS said: “Before commencement of the new Phase 1 project, the condition of the buildings was extremely poor quality, unsafe and unconducive to providing high quality education. Through extensive surveys, this area of the college campus units was deemed in the worst condition, containing large amounts of asbestos, major structural and health and safety issues and provided teaching in sub-standard accommodation. It was not the best area for students and staff.” He adds: “The delivery of the works not only removed these unsafe buildings but will also inspire greater learning opportunities within the external spaces and provide greater connectivity around the college. It’s an outstanding example of bidding for Condition Improvement Funding (CIF), working with the Local Education Authority (LEA) and supporting Academies.”

An investment of 2.5m was awarded through a successful grant application and joint partnership working with the EFA and Devon County Council which enabled the commencement of Phase 1 of the site development plan to commence in August 2015 and the project was completed in summer 2016.

Kim Dearsly, Director of Finance & Resources, Exmouth Community College comments: “The Local Authority supported the appointment of NPS who have worked in partnership with us to develop our Strategic Master Plan. This is a wonderful new educational facility for the children of Exmouth and the first major injection of cash into our buildings in a long time. Securing the funding was not easy and entailed a lot of hard work writing the bid application to ensure we secured funding and it was all very much a team effort.” Kim adds: “As part of our strategy to provide an excellent education for all our pupils, we are continually looking to ensure our campus provides the best possible facilities for both present and future pupils. The development of this project will act as a further milestone in our continual education vision for the school. We’re now looking to substantially enhance our facilities as a result of successful Priority Schools Building Programme 2 (PSBP2) bid; and Exmouth Community College, was one of only 270 schools to have been awarded this opportunity.”

Mr Alexander – Principal, Exmouth Community College concludes: “This building with its exemplary design, wide corridors and sizeable light and airy classrooms will assist our aim of becoming an outstanding school. Both students and staff are delighted with the opportunities it affords to provide the high quality teaching and learning. It is a credit to my staff who helped to plan it, NPS who project managed and Interserve who built such an inspirational building, on time and within budget. He further comments: “It will be a huge asset not only to the College, but also the town of Exmouth. I am very grateful to all involved notably, Mrs Dearsly, our Finance Director, Miss Bowles, Curriculum Director, Simon Niles from Devon County Council and Chris Jay from NPS, who all played crucial roles in the development of this wonderful building. I am absolutely thrilled and delighted to have secured it.”

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