To authorise the replacement of a double mobile with permanent build accommodation at Almeley Primary School.

Almeley Primary School is rated as a Good school by Ofsted and has been consistently admitting children up to its planned admission number.

Funding has been identified in the council’s capital programme to enable the replacement of mobile accommodation with permanent build.

The scheme will provide replacement accommodation for two classrooms with associated support spaces and will remove the last of the mobile accommodation from site.

That:

(a)        The replacement of a double mobile with permanent build accommodation be authorised at a cost of no more than £450k; and

(b)        The assistant director education development and skills (interim) be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the above recommendation within the approved budget including award of contract.

1.          The existing mobiles continue to be used as classrooms by Almeley. This is not practical as the mobiles are in poor condition. One side of the mobiles appears to be sinking resulting in a requirement to regularly lift it. The jacks used to adjust the height of the mobiles have reached their maximum extent with any further adjustment being covered by the insertion of concrete slabs below. This continual movement is causing a difference in level between the classrooms which is causing a health and safety concern to the school.

2.          The existing mobiles are replaced with new mobile accommodation. The siting of a mobile would not be considered best value as they are looked upon as temporary solutions, have a finite planning term and do not have the life span that a permanent build accommodation would have. The school has demonstrated the requirement for these additional classrooms over previous years by consistently admitting to their planned admission number. Replacement mobiles would also not support the principles of the council’s schools capital investment strategy which includes the objective that “children are not taught in temporary classrooms”.