With the support of our academy Trust, the Primitas Learning Partnership, we have managed to replace our end-of-life (and beyond) boiler – working with teams from Barkers and Jack Wolfe. The project is still seeing snagging work being completed at the start of the new term, and the new boiler has also been accompanied by new radiators and pipes throughout the main entrance of the school, the canteen, the G-Corridor (Maths) and the U- Corridor (Humanities). The overall project cost c.£700,000 and would not have been possible without our academy status and the support of our Trust.
The installation will improve the heat levels in the school, is much more efficient in terms of energy usage so will reduce costs, and is just the initial phase as we look in the near future to roll out the project over the remainder of the site.
We have also worked with external contractors on roofing, CCTV and electrical works, grounds and have got all deliveries in well in advance so that the new school year starts smoothly. We have also met with Staffordshire County Council political leaders and officers to discuss further site developments.
Meanwhile, our Site Team have also been flat out with re-decorating, repairs, building work, and much more besides. They are a 3-man team – working under our School Manager – and have been flat out through the Summer Holidays getting things done in the school ‘down-time’.
Elsewhere, our admin teams, exams team and finance team have been in the school working on Year 11 admissions into Sixth Form, securing university, college and apprenticeship placements, co-ordinating exam results distribution, appeals and support, and getting the end-of-year budget signed off for the last financial year and getting the new budget on line as we head into September.
Matt Allman, Headteacher, said: “It is a popular misconception to think that school is closed during the ‘holidays’. The reality is that many of us work right through and there is lots of work that can only be done once the children are at home or on holiday. Clearly, we have a big deadline on Monday for the new school year, and staff will be working through the last weekend to make sure everything is shipshape and ready to go. Holidays for many may be for lazing and relaxing, but our school never sleeps.”
