The Brief:

Initially built to accommodate 1,350 students aged 11-16, Kingswood Secondary School opened in January 2013 under Hull’s Building School’s for the Future (BSF) programme.

As the demand for places grew at the high performing and heavily oversubscribed school, it was determined that an extension was required to the rear of the existing school to create a further 150 places for students.

The Solution:

As the Hull City Council’s pre-procurement delivery partner, Esteem leads on the multi-million-pound delivery to improve the education estate across the city and got to work devising a phased delivery plan for the Kingswood extension.

This plan had to satisfy immediate needs for the overpopulated school, with modular temporary classrooms being procured and installed in time for the next academic year starting in September 2021. A two-phase extension to the car park had to be sequenced to ensure the school remained operational throughout the programme, with minimum of disruption.

Through engagement, Esteem interpreted requirements and the scope of works for the project, considering the needs of the school along with the Multi Academies Trust (AET).

Considerations had to be made with regards to the adjacency of the existing building to the new, identifying pupil footfall and movement throughout the school day. Key design disciplines had to maintain consistency between the existing and new buildings. From an operational and functional perspective, not only did it need to meet the requirements of the wider educational landscape (i.e., the Trust’s objectives), but also be autonomous to the principals’ approach to running the academy.

Phase 1:

  • First section of the carpark – one way system remaining open whilst extending the area to create more spaces and included the installation of Electrical Vehicle Charging Points

Phase 2:

  • Temporary classrooms – modular buildings to be installed and fitted out in time for the next cohort of students and new academic year
  • This addressed the immediate need for additional student places following a rise in demand for places at one of the highest performing academies in the country

Phase 3:

  • Completion of the car park

Phase 4:

  • Main extension, the solution was to create a three-storey standalone building which blended with the existing building. Externally the elevations and cladding details complimented the existing facility, whilst internally class bases and communal areas reflected those within the main building to ensure a seamless flow between the two buildings

The Challenges:

  • Operating in a live school environment
  • Working within the parameters and protections of a PFI school
  • Maintaining a consistent approach both internally and externally for the new build extension to reflect and complement the existing building
  • Volatility of the construction market at the time due to the pandemic and Brexit – dealing with and overcoming the issues around limited material availability and product procurement, and escalating costs of materials
  • Level of engagement and partnership working required to progress the contractual elements of the project – satisfying all parties and delivering a successful extension

The Results:

Ten months later, and Kingswood Academy now has a three-storey, standalone maths building. The newly opened Russell Building provides:

  • 12 new classrooms
  • Two offices
  • New dining area and servery with indoor and outdoor seating
  • Toilets
  • Plant rooms

An additional 72 parking spaces have also been created for cars, electrical vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycles.

Built with sustainability in mind, the building has Photovoltaic panels on the roof and EV Charging points.

Through collaboration and partnership working every step of the way, the team have used their knowledge and expertise of the educational estate to deliver a fantastic facility that will continue to support the next generation.