Whitmore High School

Creating an inspiring place for the children of Barry to learn was centred at the heart of the Whitmore High School project. The new school, delivered through our SEWSCAP framework, accommodates 1,100 pupils with a host of state-of-the-art teaching environments.

Key Stats

New secondary school and sixth form
Delivered on time and budget
10/10 customer satisfaction
£24 million social value invested
£82,545 charitable donations
SEWSCAP framework

At a Glance

Client

Vale of Glamorgan Council

Budget

£29 million

Completion

Spring 2022

Location

Barry, South Wales

Framework

SEWSCAP

Sector

Education

Social value

£24 million invested

Sustainability

BREEAM Excellent

Our approach

Delivered under the SEWSCAP framework, through the 21st Century Schools Programme, this replacement school caters for 900 secondary school and 200 sixth form students. Delivered on the live school campus, the team built the new facility on the existing school's rugby fields. Once complete, the students were moved across so that the demolition of the old school and creation of additional sports pitches could be undertaken.

Weekly meetings with the school ensured that works were programmed around school activity, including exam timetables - the team even created an in-house film ahead of the school launch with the headteacher to promote the facilities to potential students. By using a BIM model and ViewPoint during the early stages, we were able to fully immerse the customer and end users in the programme of works and end stage visualisations. As a result of the extensive engagement and collaboration, the site achieved CCS ultra site status - recognition that the scheme exceeded the schemes code of practice, promoting the highest standards.

With Morgan Sindall, it was like a friendship – a professional friendship, which is the best combination. We had that great relationship where I could call them at any moment, and ask them any question, and they would always be responsive. Having been through three building projects, that’s unusual, so it was really positive for me. What Morgan Sindall did, which I haven’t seen in other schools, is they worked really well with our department heads to look at their individual needs. It’s been very, very positive for our staff as well. The way they worked felt like a core that ran through Morgan Sindall because it wasn’t just the two Steve’s who were brilliant (and they were brilliant), it was actually every single member of staff I ever spoke to. Culture isn’t built on just a couple of people, that’s how the organisation works. I will actually miss having them here because you could always ask questions without judgement and know you’d get complete honesty – it was a real trust that we built.”
Innes Robinson, Headteacher, Whitmore High School

Social value

Returning an 83% investment on the total project cost, the scheme achieved a social value investment figure of £24 million, benefitting the local community and economy. This included delivering 89% of total project spend in South East Wales, securing 71 new jobs including 18 apprentices and supporting 2,255 hours of STEM activities for pupils.

During the project we worked with Bocs Bwyd (food box) - a local social enterprise. We purchased and refurbished a large mobile canteen which was set up on site for pupils to run a catering business. This helped feed the workers on site every day, employed a full-time catering manager, along with pupils. At the end of the project we donated the facility to the social enterprise so they could move it to another project.

Sustainability

By employing specialist waste management company, Reconomy, the team achieved a 98% waste diversion rate. Part of the success included a reworked groundworks and landscaping strategy with cut and fill exercises to reduce cart away off site. The project also achieved BREEAM Excellent, thanks to the choice of sustainable materials and renewable technologies such as PV's located on the roof to generate electricity for the school. Even during the build, the team created 'living wall's on the site accommodation to encourage new and enhanced habitats for wildlife during the build.

There’s real ambition in Barry to be something special, and it’s our job as a school to give them something they deserve. A good school is the centre of any community because nothing matters more to people than their children. This new school here is for the whole community and there is a feeling here that ‘we’re worth something, we believe in you.’ When you walk in you think this is amazing – it’s like going into some sort of hotel. Pupils here feel lucky, it changes mindset, they’re ready to learn and it’s having a huge impact. Our facilities are the best you can have and its changed the entire way we operate the school. When the schools built in a way that actually allows you to have a different curriculum and have the curriculum you want, that's pretty special. For the staff it has elevated everything, the building is like a multiplier effect. We’ve just had our inspection, which is excellent in all areas. I’ve always said that a great building doesn’t necessarily make a great school, but it definitely does here – four years ago we were a red school, and now we’re suddenly an excellent school so it’s no coincidence the building hasn’t had a sizeable impact on that. This school has completely transformed the community and you see it in every conversation you have with people.”
Innes Robinson, Headteacher, Whitmore High School