Constructing Excellence in Wales

Introduction

Newport has one of the largest disparities between affluent and deprived areas. As part of its wider community regeneration strategy, Newport City Council has embarked on an ambitious Secondary Schools Redevelopment Programme which it hopes will become a catalyst for social and economical regenerative activity.

The Council’s vision, defined as ‘All our Children, all our Business’, was to build high-quality education environments that would meet the needs of the local education model, act as a focus for community engagement, and provide training and employment opportunities for local workers. 

Work on Newport High School, which replaces Bettws High School, commenced in 2007. Designed for 1,100 students, ambitions for the £28m project were high: to provide a variety of flexible educational spaces within buildings that would be exemplars of sustainable design, and that would stand as a symbol of civic investment, engendering a sense of ownership and pride within the community.

Process

The project was procured under a two-stage tender process which brought the contractor (Leadbitter) and supply chain on board at an early stage, enabling a strong working relationship to be established from the start between the design team and the contractor’s team. Everyone involved accepted ownership of the KPIs, which were used as a means of continuous improvement.

The project was overseen by key council personnel in a formalised governing structure, and elected members were kept informed of progress. Stakeholders and advisors were consulted throughout and provided valuable information on design elements and community feedback. The project team also engaged with staff and students, and children from the feeder primary schools were able to visit the site. There was close involvement with the school’s EcoGroup on planning for carbon reduction. 

Throughout the two-year build programme opportunities were maximised to train and employ local people. Over 50% of the labour deployed by Leadbitter lived within the Newport postcode area, and over 80% came from South Wales. Early on, Leadbitter held a Preconstruction Skills Workshop with local suppliers and trades to form local links; the result was the establishment of a strong local supply chain that could bring value to future school developments and other projects in South Wales.

There was a strong emphasis on sustainability and waste reduction. Leadbitter was required to ensure that at least 15% of the total value of materials in the construction was derived from recycled and re-used content. A Site Waste Management Plan was set up to monitor waste production, and this, along with a commitment to WRAP best practice, saw over 90% of total waste diverted from landfill.

Results

The new school was completed in 2009 and has achieved numerous awards, including the LABC Quality award for best public building at the Building Excellence and Newport Construction Initiative awards. It also won the waste minimisation category in last year’s Constructing Excellence in Wales awards, and has become a CEW Demonstration Project.

Its impressive array of environmental features, including measures to minimise solar gain, solar hot water systems and CHP plant, earned it the distinction of becoming the first secondary school in Wales to achieve BREEAM ‘Excellent’ status. An energy efficient rating of 30 (Category B) was achieved – excellent for a secondary school.

Recent KPIs show a high degree of satisfaction, with 85% scores in both the school’s satisfaction with performance and the final scheme. Already there are signs of a positive impact on school attendance and intake. For example, the year 7 intake in September increased from 123 to 181, and attendance has risen from 86.5% to 90.4%. Staff retention is currently 100%.

The judges commented on the new building’s success in boosting community participation. A host of new clubs have been attracted to the new 25-metre pool, and the sports hall is now home to badminton, netball, basketball and gymnastic clubs. Local agencies such as Community Police, NHS Trust provision and Newport’s Preventative Services Group are based in the building, and there is broad community access throughout the day.

Newport High School is a high-achieving project that the judges believe has largely succeeded in its far-reaching goals. It serves its community and has played a role in the regeneration of Newport, as well as inspiring its staff and pupils. Success was achieved through clear strategy and high-level commitment from the start, with robust governance arrangements and excellent communications playing a significant part. It has established a model that the judges believe could be replicated again and again across local authorities in Wales.