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Case Studies Building Our Future: Scotland's School Estate
WORKING AROUND REDEVELOPMENT
Dunbar Primary school in East Lothian has recently undergone a refurbishment. Opened in 2000 at a cost of 2 million, the refurbishment provided an extension to the sports hall, eight new classrooms, a nursery and early years centre and a new kitchen.
These additions were required due to a new housing development of 1,000 new houses that substantially increased the potential pupil roll, particularly in relation to services for pre-school children.
The Primary School remained open throughout the redevelopment, which meant that consultation and communication between the site manager and school staff was of paramount importance to ensure safety. To ensure good communication between the school and the building contractors, the Deputy Head, was designated as key contact.
There were two main methods of consultation and involvement. Formal decisions on design plans were made at regular meetings between the school, the architect and the site manager. Informal communications, such as when pupils entered or left the building or when certain aspects of work were to be carried out, were conducted through informal phone calls between the Deputy Head and the site manager:
"It was not uncommon for me to be on the phone to the site manager more than three times a day."
The School Board was also heavily involved in decisions about design through their regular meetings.
Outcome
Limited disruption to the school
The key indicator of success has been the lack of disruption to teachers and pupils while the work was ongoing. Throughout the redevelopment classrooms were not disrupted though there was a condensed playground.
Curriculum connections
A knock-on effect of the high level of teacher involvement has been the connections made between the outside landscape and the 5 - 14 curriculum. As a health promoting school, Dunbar Primary was keen to have an outdoor area which could be used for healthy eating education and the environmental studies curriculum. The outcome has been a secure courtyard garden, accessible through all ground floor classrooms.
The garden includes a meadow, a herb garden, a sensory area with different colours and textures of plants, a pond and a sundial. It also has a willow sculpture that has a storyteller's circle in the middle and a tree of life mosaic, made up of tiles created by parents, children and members of the community. 
The school we want
The School Board was kept informed of decisions regarding the redevelopment. Early in the design process they expressed concerns that the school hall was not to be extended but instead a larger community sports hall was to be built across the road. The School Board was concerned that it could not be used for assemblies, while their existing hall was no longer suitable as it was too small for the whole school. Their concerns were taken on board and an extension was provided to the school hall which makes it large enough for all children to attend assemblies while also allowing it to be partitioned into two halls for physical education classes.
Lessons
- the smooth running of the school during the building works was a function of a strong, positive relationship between the site manager and the Deputy Head Teacher, easing communications between the two groups
- in order for consultation to be meaningful, local authorities must be willing to alter plans following the consultation process
- a high level of involvement of school staff can ensure that schools are built to encourage learning and provide as many opportunities for learning as possible.
Contact
Penny Rounce
Deputy Head Teacher
Dunbar Primary School
Lammermuir Crescent
DUNBAR
EH42 1DG
Telephone: 01368 863773
Email: dunbar.ps@eastlothian.gov.uk
Joyce Wighton
Planning and Resources Manager
Children's Services
Stirling Council
Viewforth
STIRLING
FK8 2ET
Telephone: 01786 443418
Email: wightonj@stirling.gov.uk
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