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Greenshaw High School

Expansion Project

An update for our local community on the building work.

Update on 9th December

What a difference a year makes. This time last year the building was a steel frame and we were keeping our fingers crossed that the weather wouldn’t cause any more delays to the project. We are now delivering lessons in all 15 new classrooms, have a modern, spacious and welcoming reception area, and improved facilities which make the site more inclusive to disabled visitors.
 
The next phase of the project, is to modernise the interior of the building. We have widened corridors to improve circulation, constructed a new ramp down to the dining hall and have demolished the classrooms at the back of the hall so that it can be extended, increasing the seating area during mealtimes and providing a teaching space at other times.
 
We have demolished the old Yellow House office and finance office and are constructing a new, wider staircase up to the science classrooms. Between now and Easter we will be creating two new science labs, a new food technology room and will be refurbishing the media resources room. The builders have also started the ground works for reinstating the car park, which was demolished to make way for the site compound.

Update on 18th November 2016

The majority of building works have now finished on the new extension. The school has occupied all the offices and classrooms and are settling in. There are still some works required to the exterior of the building, so we haven’t yet been able to complete the front fascia and install the coloured fins which will run vertically down the front of the building. As the works are weather dependent, we will probably have to wait until after Christmas to complete the front of the building.

Building the extension was only the first part of the project. Works began over the summer on internal remodelling to allow the school to safely accommodate our additional students. We have already widened corridors and doorways, widened the exit to the playground and modernised access to the school to allow improved access for disabled staff, students and visitors.

Over the coming months, we will be extending the main hall, remodelling several classrooms to improve their facilities and will be constructing a wider central staircase in the centre of the school to improve student flow. The final part of the project will be to reinstate the car park at the front of the school and landscape the areas which have been affected by the building works, including planting trees and shrubs to replace the ones which were removed as part of the project.

There will still be some traffic to and from the site, but nowhere near the volume that we have seen throughout the first year of the project. Thomas Sinden will continue to marshall all traffic in and out of the site to avoid issues on Grennell Road.

An update for 2015-16 – 15th July 2016

The building project has now been running for most of this academic year, and the first phase is nearing completion. Over the last nine months we have seen the car park and front of the old building demolished, with extensive ground-works to clear the site and prepare the area, moving 300 truckloads of debris to enable the foundations to be poured. The piling phase of the build needed one of the largest piling rigs in the country to allow the contractor to drill down and place the piling caps to support the steel frame.

The substructure and drainage works were completed in November and early December, allowing the contractor to pour the concrete base just before Christmas, which took 60 lorry loads of concrete.

In early January, the concrete base was prepared, the staircases were craned into place and the metal deck floors were installed, allowing the brickwork to begin.
Over the spring months the building started to take shape. As the contractors began to install windows within the newly formed walls we could, for the first time, get a real sense of what the building would look like.

As we approach the end of the school year, demolition work has begun in the sixth
form area to facilitate the internal remodelling. Preparations are underway for an extensive programme of works that will continue until March, which include:

  • Widening corridors to improve access
  • Creating a wider staircase to science
  • Demolishing the rooms at the back of the main hall to create a larger space
  • Installing new toilet facilities
  • Refurbishment of some classrooms into science labs.

It has been exciting to see the building take shape. There have been challenges which have required us to be flexible and creative to maintain provision for the students, but it has provided learning opportunities with technology students visiting the site to observe and meet with the building team.

We will have access to the new reception area and ground floor in time for the new school year in September. The two floors above will be ready in October, when the autumn programme of works will be underway. There will inevitably some unforeseen challenges that we have to overcome, but my team and I have worked very hard to anticipate these as far as possible so that we can continue to deliver the best possible education to our students.
Mr Bingham, School Business Manager

Update on 10th June 2016

Much of the external building works have now been completed. The lift hoist at the front of the building will shortly be removed and once the final windows have been installed, the contractor will remove the scaffolding. Over the coming weeks the electrical and carpentry works will continue.

At some point in the next two months there will be some essential gas works undertaken which the contractor tells us may involve narrowing part of Grennell Road temporarily while the gas board are working. We will update you with further details as we have them.

Update on 20th May 2016
The construction works are proceeding well. Thomas Sinden will need to continue working on Saturday mornings to make up the time lost through bad weather.

The brickwork has been completed and the electrical and other contractors are now on site. Over the coming weeks, the contractors will complete the brickwork and glazing on the front façade of the building and glazing at the rear of the building will be completed. The roof insulation works are coming to a close and the parapet will be completed soon. Now that the internal partitions are complete, the electrical and mechanical works can begin.

Once the front façade is complete, the contractors will remove the scaffolding from the front of the site so we will all be able to get an idea of how the building will look.

Update on 15th April 2016
The building works are progressing well. The internal partitions are being formed and electricians are working on the initial cabling for the building. Over the coming weeks the contractor will commence installation of the front façade of the building, glazing will begin to be installed at the front and rear of the building and the bricklayers will continue working to form the outer walls. There will also be works to the roof parapet.

Whilst the builders will endeavour to keep noise to a minimum wherever possible, there will inevitably be some noise at this stage of the project, which we apologise for.

Key date: Academic Assessment will be taking place on Saturday 23rd April 2016 from 8.30am to 1.30pm and car parking facilities will be made available to parents on the school site.  Parents have also been asked that if they choose to park on the surrounding roads that they do so with courtesy to our neighbours.

Update on 24th March 2016
Over the coming weeks the contractors will continue forming the walls inside the building and working on the drainage and attenuation outside the building. They will be working through the school holiday and on Saturdays, but works will close down for the bank holidays over the Easter period.

At some point next week, Sutton Council will also be removing the stumps of the trees which were cut down recently. This work is not under the control of Greenshaw High School, we are  allowing site access for the necessary work.

Academic assessment

Academic Assessment will be taking place on Saturday 23rd April 2016 from 8.30am to 1.30pm. Car parking facilities will be made available to parents on the school site. Parents have also been asked that if they choose to park on the surrounding roads that they do so with courtesy to our neighbours.

Update on 11th March 2016

The concrete for the floors and roof have all now been poured. The scaffolding has been erected, the walls are under construction and the window frames will soon be in place.

There will be some drainage and attenuation works starting at the front of the new structure, which will involve digging and the removal of excess earth, but this will not be on the scale of the initial groundworks.

Should you have any concerns, please contact Glen Neal, Site Manager, who will resolve them.

Update on 26th February 2016

The expansion works are progressing well. The superstructure is now in place, the first and second floor concrete slabs have been poured and the roof slab will be poured next week.

The building will be encapsulated with scaffolding and then appropriately covered over the next two weeks. Once this is completed, the bricklaying work will begin.

Thomas Sinden will continue to ensure that its workforce operates in a professional way and minimise as far as possible the impact of the works.

Update on 5th February 2016

The works to erect the steel frame are nearly complete. The recent strong winds have delayed this part of the project as the crane cannot operate if it is too windy. The concrete staircases are now planned to be installed on Tuesday 9th February. Once they are in place the metal deck floors will be installed and we will then be able to pour the concrete. Weather permitting the concrete will be poured on 17th, 25th February and 4th March.
To try and make up some of the lost time Thomas Sinden will be working on 6th and 13th February.

Update on 15th January 2016

Please be aware that Thomas Sinden will be working on site on Saturday 16th and Saturday 23rd January.  Work will be taking place until 1.00pm on both days.

Update on 8th January 2016

The ground works have drawn to a close and the concrete base has now been poured and prepared. Over the coming two weeks the contractors will continue to erect the steel frame for the building. On 26th January the concrete staircases will be installed, this will require the use of a 125 tonne crane with additional ballast to be delivered to site at 8.00am in preparation for the arrival of the staircases.

Thomas Sinden will continue to endeavour to keep disruption to a minimum whilst these works are being completed.

Update on 11th December 2015

Work on the substructure has now progressed to the point where the contractor is ready to pour the concrete base. As the base requires 30 lorry loads of concrete, this will be poured on two days. The first half will be done on Monday 14th December and the second half on Monday 21st December. A special pouring vehicle will be brought on to site first thing in the morning and the lorries are planned to arrive between 9.00am and 2.30pm. If there have been any delays then it may be necessary to bring the remaining lorries in between 3.30pm and the end of the day. As the sections have to dry together (or the integrity of the base will be affected), it is not an option to pour this over two days.
 
Thomas Sinden will continue to ensure that all vehicles are marshalled on and off of the site and that they are appropriately washed down before leaving. We will post another update in the days prior to the next section of the base being poured to ensure that that you are fully informed and will communicate with residents through the email channels that we have set up. If you would like to register to receive electronic updates, please email expansion@greenshaw.co.uk.

Update on 4th December 2015

The ground works are continuing well. The contractor has almost completed construction of the pile caps and is beginning work on the substructure.

Once this stage is complete, the contractor will pour the concrete base. This will require an increase in lorries delivering concrete to the site on the day that the base is constructed. We will post another update in the days prior to this happening to ensure that that you are fully informed and will communicate with residents through the email channels that we have set up. If you would like to register to receive electronic updates, please send an email to expansion@greenshaw.co.uk.
 
We will continue to work in a community-focused manner. If you experience any problems in relation to this please do contact Glen Neal, the Thomas Sinden Site Manager, who will endeavour to resolve any problems swiftly.

Update on 23rd November 2015

The ground works are progressing well and will continue over the coming weeks. The contractor will be completing construction of the pile caps over the coming two weeks and begin work on the substructure.

This phase of the project will inevitably require a lot of debris to be cleared from the site, we will continue to do this in a community-focused manner.

If you experience any problems in relation to this please do contact Glen Neal, the Thomas Sinden Site Manager, who will endeavour to resolve any problems swiftly.

Update on 6th November 2015

The piling work went well over the half term break. The contractor will be continuing the ground works over the coming weeks, which will include laying the drainage services for the new building. There will be some noisy work as they construct the pile caps, as this will involve cutting some of the piles to the correct height.
 
This phase of the project will inevitably require a lot of debris to be cleared from the site. We will continue to do this in a community-focused manner.

Work will take place over the following two Saturdays (7th and 14th November), to the agreed hours of 8.00am to 1.00pm.

If you experience any problems, please do contact Glen Neal, the Thomas Sinden Site Manager, who will endeavour to resolve them swiftly. (Contact details can be found at the bottom of this page.)

Update on 23rd October 2015

Over the coming two weeks: The contractors will have a piling rig delivered on Monday 26th October, which will be digging the foundations throughout the week and will be removed on Friday 30th. Due to the nature of these works, there will be a lot of lorries taking debris away from the site and delivering steelworks for the piles and concrete for the foundations.

Thomas Sinden will have banks men marshalling the lorries in and out of the site to ensure safety is maintained. Once this is complete, work will begin on the substructure of the building.

Update on 16th October 2015

The contractors from Thomas Sinden will be working on the next two Saturdays (17th and 24th October) from 8.00am to 1.00pm. Our window contractor working will also be working and will be finished at the same time.

Update on 9th October 2015

The contractor, Thomas Sinden, commenced work on site at Greenshaw on Monday 28th September. The initial work included erection of hoardings, asbestos removal, tree removal and levelling the ground.

The main entrance to the school for all students in Years 7 to 11 has been relocated to the gates adjacent to the sports hall; sixth form students will continue to use their existing entrance. Visitors will use the temporary entrance at the front of the school.

Sutton Council has extended some of the yellow lines at junctions along Grennell Road and has advised us that one of the build outs next to the sixth form entrance will be removed in October half term.

Over the coming weeks the contractors will be demolishing the front face of the building and digging out and piling for the foundations. This will involve some noisy work and vehicles removing waste from the site. The aim is to be ready for the steel frame to be erected early in the new year.

Construction work will only be carried out between 8.00am and 6.00pm Monday to Friday and 8.00am to 1.00pm on Saturdays (and the contractor will endeavour to keep Saturday working to a minimum).

Thomas Sinden drew up and submitted to the Council proposals for the management of the construction programme, including the control of access and deliveries.
The school and Thomas Sinden have been in discussion with officers of the Council’s planning and highways departments and it has been agreed that:

  1. Site traffic will come up Oakhill Road, Benhill Wood Road, Elgin Road and Grennell Road to the school, and exit along the same route. This will be communicated to all drivers and will be signposted.
  2. The existing entrance to the car park in front of the sixth form entrance will be widened to give separate gates for the school and the contractor. Vehicles entering the site will be able to pull off the roadway before entering an inner gate.
  3. All vehicles will be unloaded or loaded within the site.
  4. Site access will be controlled by a banksman at all times. A holding point will be established in Elgin Road where vehicles can wait before being called up by radio, to avoid lorries queuing in Grennell Road.
  5. Deliveries will only take place between 09.30 and 14.30 Monday to Friday (09.30 – 14.00 on Wednesday).

Sutton Council’s Highways officers are considering introducing temporary parking restrictions during the construction period, and will be consulting with residents. The contractors may use traffic cones to prohibit parking on a temporary basis, when needed. Permanent traffic and parking measures will be considered once any temporary measures have been agreed.

Throughout the construction period we will be keeping local residents and other stakeholders informed of progress in our local Bulletin, on the school noticeboard outside school and on the website here. If you want to receive updates by email, please register your details here.

We have established a Liaison Group to engage representatives of the local community during the construction project, to keep them informed and ensure their views and concerns are addressed – more information can be found here.

If you have any questions or comments or wish to report any concerns or issues relating to the expansion project, please email expansion@greenshaw.co.uk.

You may contact the contractors directly to report any problems relating to their activities: telephone 07917 060340, 8.00am and 6.00pm Monday to Friday, or 0800 140 4586 outside these hours (24 hours).