Oakmoor School

  • Client

    Hampshire County Council

  • Contractor

  • Value

    £23m

  • Completion Date

    November 2019

The Challenge

The school, previously known as Bordon Secondary School needed to meet the requirements of 900 school places and relocate from the eastern side of town to a more central location for children in both Bordon and neighbouring Whitehill. In 2015, Bordon and Whitehill were selected by the NHS’s Healthy New Towns scheme in hopes to develop a healthier environment, a strong sense of community and better care services within the local area. It was therefore imperative that the new school included facilities that would boost the children’s well-being.

Due to constricting budget restraints, it was crucial that Kier worked closely with Hampshire County Council’s team and maintained consistent communication throughout the project to help bring their dream school to life.

The Solution

In order to create a modern and cohesive learning environment that satisfies the councils’ design, a proposal was approved for a collegiate style campus with four separate buildings connected by a central courtyard. This courtyard was intended to be a social and teaching hub, therefore encouraging a positive and well-connected community.

As part of the town’s Healthy Living Masterplan, extensive consultation with Sport England was carried out to devise a diverse range of facilities that could be used by the children all year round, therefore encouraging activity. The school was built in an area easily accessible for residents of Bordon and Whitehill, acting as a gateway to intertwine the communities.

To prioritise sustainability, the project adopted a low-energy, fabric-first strategy by making the most of the surrounding and historical Woolmer Forest. This resulted in the school possessing beautiful views of nature, boosting student and faculty morale. Additionally, a large expanse of PV panels on the southern teaching wing’s roof provides 10% of the school’s energy requirements.

The Results

The new Oakmoor School is a modern building with two-storey teaching wings spanning from the central courtyard, with school halls and sports halls at either end. The covered courtyard effectively reduces internal floor area and prevents the corridors from becoming overcrowded. Additionally, entrances to teaching wings are defined by staircases, once again minimising the volume of students within corridors. Passing through the courtyard promotes a healthier lifestyle as students and teachers will get a breath of fresh air while traveling easily between classes.

86.4%

SME Spend

£362,000

Added Value

8.6

Client Satisfaction

Contractor Performance | Commitments

Fair

Sustainability

10% energy requirements from green energy

Safe

Zero RIDDORs

Legacy

900 academy places

Aftercare

Handover & Aftercare Contractor Promise

SCF Framework Manager

James Wright

Email: james.wright@hants.gov.uk

Phone: 07761 330560

Contractor Framework Manager

James Parr

Email: james.parr@kier.co.uk

Phone: 07794218011

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