BMAT Academy Trust
Secondary Education Buildings
4 months
Hire
Why HireAfter the main school buildings had to be vacated following technical concerns raised by the Department for Education, the team at Sir Frederick Gibberd College (SFG) had over 650 pupils to urgently relocate. Of the three schools Portakabin was engaged to deliver for, SFG was the largest and had an extensive list of requirements to ensure standards at the high performing secondary school did not slip.
Challenging site conditions immediately acted against the project team’s carefully planned programme of delivery. A constrained site deep within a residential area with up to 100 staff working at any one time required a diligent approach to ensure all works were carried out efficiently and with safety as a top priority.
Buildings were delivered to site from across the Portakabin network, as far as Manchester, York, Leeds, Newcastle, Bridgewater and Birmingham.
The school was designed across six separate blocks which allowed delivery to be staggered. This phased and adaptable approach is the hallmark of modular construction, allowing flexible design to futureproof buildings for optimum usage.
In total, 48 individual teaching locations were handed over alongside a full package of groundworks and a full furniture decant from the defunct school building into the Portakabin buildings. The re-installation of this furniture was delivered overnight to guarantee the original handover date.
A second phase is planned to be delivered in September 2024.
Overcoming significant logistical challenges, the delivery of the modular buildings for Sir Frederick Gibberd College represents a triumph of rapid construction and planning. This project ensured that our students continued their education in a high-quality, purpose-built environment, reflecting our commitment to excellence despite unforeseen circumstances.
