St Mary's Primary School 2008-9
For an overview of the project, please click here.
To see architect's '3D' drawings of the extension, please click here.
Week 50 - 30th March 2009
The roofing continued.
Week 49 - 23rd March 2009
The brickwork rose towards the top of the hall. The builders began to lay the roof covering over the classrooms.
Week 48 - 16th March 2009
The gable was reached and the bricks cut at an angle to fit under the roof. Roof timbers were installed.
Week 47 - 9th March 2009
Another level of scaffolding was used as the bricklayers looked down from on high.
Week 46 - 2nd March 2009
A further layer of bricks was laid.
Week 45 - 23rd February 2009
Work began on the walls of the linking section between the new building and the old.
Week 44 - 16th February 2009
Half-term for the children, but hard work for the builders as the walls began to reach the roofline.
Week 43 - 9th February 2009
The bricklayers were back in action, now perched on scaffolding to build the walls above head height.
Week 42 - 2nd February 2009
This week snow interrupted progress.
Week 41 - 26th January 2009
Bricks were used as well as blocks. Sacking protected the bricks in the frosty weather.
Week 40 - 19th January 2009
They rose higher, mainly in breeze blocks.
Week 39 - 12th January 2009
The walls started to rise.
Week 38 - 5th January 2009
After the Christmas break, there was light snow on the ground and hard frost at night. Work was carried out on the retaining wall alongside the field, and blocks and bricks arrived for the classroom walls.
Weeks 36 and 37 - 8th and 15th December 2008
Concrete blocks were craned in and laid to form the floor.
Weeks 34 and 35 - 24th November / 1st December 2008
Breeze block foundations were added to support the classroom floors. At the PTA's Christmas Fair, sales were begun of the engraved bricks which will be displayed in the new entrance foyer.
Week 33 - 17th November 2008
Groundwork continued beneath the steelwork, to provide concrete bases for the columns.
Week 32 - 10th November 2008
The framework grew - in length, height and complexity.
Week 31 - 3rd November 2008
The steel framework was craned in and assembling it began - at speed!
Week 30 - 27th October 2008
The footings for the framework of the building were completed.
Week 29 - 20th October 2008
A new path was laid to the KS2 classrooms alongside the existing one , which was then taken into the building site to enable work to continue on the foundations. In mostly fine weather, progress was good, with several diggers and cement mixers at work. A 23-page report was received on the archaeological dig, reporting only that an old field boundary was uncovered. The architect met with PTA committee members to plan the provision and sale of engraved bricks for permanent display in the new entrance lobby.
Week 28 - 13th October 2008
The foundations were continued. Lighting was provided to the pathway to Key Stage 2, now the evenings are drawing in. Staff toilet facilities were added close to the KS2 classrooms.
Week 27 - 6th October 2008
The foundations were begun, with trenches dug and filled with concrete. A great deal of surplus soil was removed.
Week 26 - 29th September 2008
The archaeologists found nothing of interest, so the go-ahead was given for beginning on the foundations. By the end of the week, the site had been flattened and was being measured out for the first stages of building.
Week 25 - 22nd September 2008
The gas supply was reconnected ready for the season of central heating. The demolition site was cleared and a trench dug across it, in the presence of two archaeologists. Checking underground for any historical remains was one of the terms of the planning permission.
Week 24 - 15th September 2008
At last demolition of the old ICT suite could go ahead. It didn't make as much as noise as we feared!
Week 23 - 8th September 2008
The gas supply was still not disconnected, so demolition was still not possible. The new office entrance was made more welcoming with signs and plants.
Week 22 - 1st September 2008
By the beginning of term, all services were running - just, and only by the use of an electricity generator for part of the site. But the works were secure from the children, who were surprised to see the changes to their building over the holiday. On Friday and Saturday, the incoming electricity supply was relocated away from the part to be demolished.
Week 21 - 25th August 2008
The site fencing was improved with mesh to reduce the spread of dust. Site cabins were installed in the builders' compound. A temporary plant room was installed, and sheds erected to store caretaking and PE equipment. The new corridor was painted and carpeted. Demolition had been planned this week, but was delayed because the electricity company has not yet relocated the incoming supply. The gas company hasn't connected its supply either, and nor has the broadband company, despite advance planning with all the firms concerned.
Week 20 - 18th August 2008
Internal access to the old ICT suite was walled up and the fittings of the suite were stripped out, leaving the masonry shell. A reception window was created in the internal office wall to greet visitors to the new entrance.
Week 19 - 11th August 2008
Work began on the relocation of the main entrance to permit demolition and rebuilding next to the existing entrance. The staff rooom kitchen was repositioned so a corridor could be created to the new entrance door.
Week 18 - 4th August 2008
To prepare for the demolition of the existing ICT suite, the services that run over the porch and through its ceiling space were exposed, and the electrical supplies were relocated to the hall. Plans were made for the relocation of the main 'office' entrance to the school during the building works.
Week 17 - 28th July 2008
Preparatory work began to set up the builders' compound on the field.
Week 16 - 21st July 2008
A pre-start meeting was held in school with representatives of the contractors, the consultants and the Governors to plan for the construction works. An immediate start date in August 2008 was agreed, with a building period of one year.
Week 15 -14th July 2008
The Governing Body and DHP Consultants agreed the appointment of E. R. Armfield Ltd. as the contractors for the main phase of the construction.
Week 14 - 7th July 2008
The Summer Fair gave parents the chance to see what has been happening and to ask about the next steps. It also took the total raised for the project by the school community to £9000 - a third of our target.
Week 13 - 30th June 2008
Martin Reynolds Construction completed the first 'enabling' phase of the works at the end of last week, so nothing else happened on site. However, the tenders for the main phase have been received and are being checked for accuracy before the selection of the contractor takes place.
Week 12 - 23rd June 2008
Rickie (Y6) reports: "On Tuesday, the cranes arrived to take away the old Class 5 and 6 classroom. When they started to lift them, the builders found skeletons of what looked like a fox and rat. The huts were separated into sections and then loaded on to the back of lorries to be taken away and burned."
Week 11 - 16th June 2008
First, Year 6 moved from their old classroom to their new one. Then Year 5 followed. In both cases, the staff were helped by teams of children and parents who kindly volunteered their time and their muscles.
Week 10 - 9th June 2008
The tarmac path to the classrooms was laid, and work was continued to make the relocated classroom block ready for use.
Week 9 - 2nd June 2008
This week the builders worked on building steps and ramps to the classrooms they moved at half-term. Towards the end of the week they began to excavate the route for a proper tarmac path to the classrooms on the field, to replace the uneven temporary path in use at present.
Week 8 - 26th May 2008
In the half-term holiday, the classroom block vacated by Years 3 and 4 was dismantled and relocated to its new 'home' on the field. First Mrs Muat worked hard to rescue some of the long-established shrubs. Then the crane arrived to swing the sections through the air, leaving a lot of debris behind.
Week 7 - 19th May 2008
All the furniture, equipment and resources of Years 3 and 4 were transferred to the new rooms, with sterling help from parents and friends of the school. Then the children moved in too, with excitement! Here are the classrooms kitted out for use.
Week 6 - 12th May 2008
The builders took a break so they didn't disturb the Year 6 children during their 'SAT' tests. The new classroom was used for the first time for the tests to take place.
Week 5 - 5th May 2008
The interior of the rooms was fitted out, and a temporary path was laid from the playground to the classrooms.
Week 4 - 28th April 2008
Ramps and steps were built for access to the three classrooms, one double building and a single.
Week 3 - 21st April 2008
Large lorries arrived, bringing the sections of the modular classroom block which will house Years 3 and 4 and replace some of the other facilities which will be temporarily lost during the building works. The sections were craned into position and locked together.
Week 2 - 14th April 2008
The trenches across the car park and playground were filled in again, leaving a 'cupboard' in the Junior playground to house electrical connections, and another similar one on the field.
Week 1 - 7th April 2008
Martin Reynolds Construction began the 'enabling works'. They dug trenches to take the pipes and cables for the modular classrooms which will be situated on the field for the duration of the building works.
