Council’s £9.2m school repairs will ensure 20 sites are ‘up to standard’ for pupils

Repairs will target leaky roofs, old boilers and windows letting in drafts as well as urgent safety repairs, ceiling replacements and improved insulation on old school sites.

Now a leading cabinet member has said the repairs – targeting 20 primary and infant schools – will ensure the hubs are “fit for purpose” in the future.

Cllr Keith Girling (Con) is the council’s cabinet member for economic development and asset management and has signed off on the works. He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the investment is about ensuring schools are safe and future-proofed for pupils.

He said: “It’s part of a bigger scheme and is another phase where we’re looking at the schools in our estate and the work that needs to be done on them.

“These are the schools that need it the most and first. We’re looking at things like leaky roofs or boilers that need replacing. These aren’t cheap and part of our green agenda is changing what sorts of boilers we use.

“It’s about making sure the schools are up to the standard we want them to be. We’ve looked at them based on urgency and what needs to be sorted out, such as things like leaky roofs or windows letting in drafts.

“It’s about the conditions of the schools. They have kids in them and there’s a lot of running and banging around, and things happen to the buildings. So the work is prioritising the repairs and committing £9.2m, which is not an insubstantial amount of money.”

It’s part of the authority’s school building improvement work for 2023/24 and will be delivered by contractor Arc Partnership.

Dan Maher, managing director at Arc, added: “Ninety-nine per cent of this work will be carried out by local contractors.”

Planned improvements will target Intake Farm Primary, Berry Hill Primary and Northfield Primary, all in Mansfield.

Intake will get £1.2m to strengthen and replace its roofing and improve insulation, replace suspended ceilings, upgrade LED lighting, remove asbestos and replace wall tiling.

Berry Hill’s work will involve sections of roof replacements to reduce leaks, costing £52,040, while Northfield’s work, costing £475,000, will replace original single-glazed windows and doors with double-glazed units.

Newlands Junior School, in nearby Clipstone, will also get £17,930 to replace internal plasterboard in a classroom, while Abbey Gates, in Ravenshead, will get £37,947 to remove blockages, replace pipes and re-lay a path.

Further work is promised at Leen Mills Primary and Edgewood Primary, both in Hucknall. Leen Mills’ work will see £80,000 spent replacing mobile classrooms with £356,208 promised for Edgewood to transform the “redundant” former indoor pool into a dining area and replace cladding in the sports hall.

Annesley Primary, in Annesley Woodhouse, will also get £517,980 for upgrades including a wired fire alarm system, emergency lighting and energy-efficient lighting.

Coddington Primary, near Newark, will get £106,810 to remove and replace canopies. A further £1.92m is promised for Westdale Infants, in Mapperley, for roof repairs, new and upgraded lighting, replaced ceilings, improved fire safety systems and removal of asbestos.

Bramcote Hills Primary will get £815,100 for roof replacement, improved insulation and guttering, with £200,000 to supply a “safe and comfortable” new roof at Albany Junior School, Stapleford.

Eskdale Junior, in Beeston, will get a new high-energy and low-carbon boiler, a new control system and a gas leak detection system, costing £273,920.

There will also be £220,836 to replace a “problematic” boiler at Lady Bay Primary. A further £1.18m is promised to upgrade buildings, replace a flat roof and insulation and improve environmental performance at James Peacock Infant School in Ruddington.

Kinoulton Primary will get £542,990 for roof repairs, new ceilings and lighting, with £377,010 to prevent flooding, improve drainage and resurface a car park and playground at Muskham Primary, North Muskham.

Beckingham Primary and Misterton Primary will also get cash, with £400,000 to address dampness and create a “healthier space for learning” at Beckingham. Misterton will get £118,133 to replace the fire escape stairs and ensure a “safe evacuation route for students and staff”.

And Rampton Primary, near Retford, will get £300,000 to replace oil boilers with a low-carbon alternative, ensuring a “warm and comfortable environment” for staff and pupils.