A New Sixth Form Centre

The Requirement

Wymondham High in Norfolk is a mixed academy specialising in the arts and sciences.  Its sixth form has been recognised as ‘outstanding' by Ofsted and it has been listed as one of the best performing schools in East Anglia.

A dedicated centre was required for the sixth form, which would mark the start of a significant new phase in the history of the school.  In line with Government policy to increase the number of academies across the UK, Wymondham High now has Academy status. 

The additional teaching accommodation was needed as the school caters for over 1,600 pupils, with 400 in the sixth form from the start of the 2011/12 academic year and plans are in place to increase pupil numbers to 2,000.

The Solution

The scheme was constructed using a highly sustainable recycled modular building from Foremans.  It was completed ahead of schedule, reducing the programme from receipt of order to less than three months.

Designed by architects NPS South East, the purpose-designed facility was craned into position in just one

day during the school holidays to minimise disruption to staff and students.   The single-storey building accommodates five seminar rooms for students studying social sciences, and sixth form facilities, including a break-out area, toilets and administration office.  The main contractor was Farrans (Construction) Ltd.

A Collaborative Approach to Design

A collaborative approach was taken to the design of the new building.  The most appropriate aesthetic solution for the exterior was discussed at workshops with sixth form design students.  Students were keen to use timber from a sustainable source and to introduce colour into the project. The architects worked with Foremans to develop a cladding solution using natural larch with vertical ‘windows' cut out to reveal the modular steel structure finished in three colours - jade, heritage green and wedgewood blue.

Comments from the Client Team

Victoria Musgrave, Principal, Wymondham High Academy:

"This project has definitely exceeded our expectations and both staff and students are genuinely thrilled with it.  They like the ambience it has created, the flexibility of the space, and the fact that we now have a dedicated facility for our sixth form." 

"The Foremans team was very helpful, personable and efficient throughout and the modular solution has given us the very best scheme for our available budget.  It was also sufficiently flexible to meet our project-specific requirements and has provided us with a high quality teaching environment, which symbolises the start of a new era for the school."                               

Louise Robinson, Project Architect, NPS South East:

"This scheme has changed our perception of modular building. It feels robust and secure and has good sound quality - you would never know it is a modular structure.  We are impressed with the finish, particularly externally, and the cladding is crisp and well executed."

"Foremans' performance was excellent at every stage. The building was installed in just one day and the modular approach gave us the benefit of a critical saving on time.  The project had to be delivered in just three months before the start of the new academic year, which was a major challenge.  I am pleased to report the school was actually able to move in several days earlier than planned - a significant achievement for the design and construction team."

Fully Refurbished Modular Buildings

All Foremans' recycled modular buildings are fully refurbished with new windows, wall linings, partitions, mechanical and electrical services, doors, flooring, and cladding, to create high quality accommodation for a wide variety of education applications.

The advantages of recycled and refurbished modular buildings for schools, colleges and sixth form centres include:

• A bespoke design to meet specific project and site requirements
• Programme times reduced by up to 70 per cent
• A highly cost-effective alternative to new build
• The buildings can easily be expanded, reconfigured or removed if teaching requirements change
• Off-site working is maximised for safer, quieter and cleaner sites and reduced disruption to teaching
• High quality steel-framed modular buildings are built to last and require fewer ground works than traditional site-based construction - further reducing cost, disruption and programme times.