Multimillion-pound revamp of Foxhills Technology College begins
DEMOLITION work has begun to transform a dated secondary school as part of a multimillion-pound rebuilding and refurbishment project.
Foxhills Technology College in Scunthorpe is having half of its building pulled down as part of the Government's Building Schools For The Future (BSF) programme.
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COMING DOWN: Demolition work by the Ron Hull Group begins at Foxhills Technology College. Inset, how the school will look when the work is finished.
A specialist team from Rotherham-based Ron Hull Demolition has been brought in to execute a high-speed removal of the central core of the old school before students return from the half-term break.
Design work for the Foxhills Technology College scheme started in the autumn of last year. This was preceded by a five-year period during which the head teacher, staff and governors developed their thoughts into a comprehensive design brief.
Mick Bracken, project manager for main project contractor May Gurney, said: "The first phase of the demolition involves the main entrance to the school and what's known as the 'spine block', which housed the staff room and more than 30 classrooms and teaching areas.
"It is a complex demolition in that the main school hall, which is just off the main entrance, is not being taken down. That is to be refurbished. Meanwhile two wings on the other side the spine block are being left in place for the time being."
The emphasis of the BSF programme is very much on students playing a pivotal role in their learning. They design their own timetable and their learning plans are captured on a computer system to ensure all work is completed. Teaching is organised in a cross-curricular way by mixed teams of teachers.
David Wall, contracts director with Ron Hull Demolition, said: "We are scheduled to be out in four weeks, but are conscious of the fact that students are due back in a couple of weeks.
"The critical objective is to get the majority of the demolition completed during half term, so all that will remain to be done is the processing of materials and clearing up.
"It is going to be an ultra-green operation. Almost all the brick and rubble from the demolished buildings are to be processed on site and will be used in the rebuilding project.
"The good news for local residents is that will minimise heavy vehicle movements in the area."
Councilor Tony Gosling, Cabinet member for children's services at North Lincolnshire Council, said: "I'm really excited for the pupils as they are now benefiting from a completely different way of learning.
"This is an improvement and is more centred on the individual's needs and aspirations."
BSF investment has already transformed facilities at Brumby Engineering College and Melior Community College.
8 Comments
by Truth, Scunthorpe
Friday, October 29 2010, 4:54PM
“I have to say there is probably more political nous spoken on these pages in a few days then there is in the council offices over the course of a year.
So far we have The Scribe, Mac Clifford and a handful of others who I feel sure would make better councillors then all the existing ones combined.
Can you guys start your own political party please? I'm sure the council would be be in much safer hands.
Sadly a few well organised independents would make very little difference in the quagmire of local party politics. Still we can dream!
The truth is out there...if we were just able to ignore the spin!”
by Mac Clifford, PR Guru to the Tsars
Friday, October 29 2010, 9:26AM
“Typo removed!!
Q: "Do they really think that the electorate are that naive?"
A: Definitely and clearly here in Nth Lincs, yes.
Many of our inept, self serving politicians, councils and councillors believe that they only have to be astute, arrogant and devious to survive and to avoid any exposure of their standards of conduct and performance.
Besides, even when exposed, councils and councillors clearly have and are aware of the backup of the tactics and sharp practices of legal and democratic minders to totally vindicate them.
Unfortunately the idiots, has beens and never weres amongst them, just do not have the nous to avoid making that fatal assumption that the electorate must fall at or below the standards of their own intellect, calibre and integrity.”
by Mac Clifford, PR Guru to the Tsars
Friday, October 29 2010, 9:18AM
“Q: "Do they really think that the electorate are that naive?"
A: Definitely and clearly here in Nth Lincs, yes.
Many of our inept, self serving politicians, councils and councillors believe that they only have to be astute, arrogant and devious to survive and to avoid any exposure of their standards of conduct and performance.
Besides, even when exposed, councils and councillors clearly have and are aware of the backup of the tactics and sharp practices of legal and democratic minders to totally vindicate them.
Unfortunately the idiots, has beens and never weres amongst them, just do not have the nous to avoid making that fatal assumption that the electorate must fall at or well the standards of their own intellect, calibre and integrity.”
by b, Ashby
Friday, October 29 2010, 8:53AM
“well said scribe, bring on council elections, pity we can not sack the wasters , we only pay their wages ,to be ignored new labour Mafia .”
by dave, scunny
Thursday, October 28 2010, 6:36PM
“waste of money the building did the job sould be kasmear gardens on frodingham road pull down”
by Truth, Scunthorpe
Thursday, October 28 2010, 5:58PM
“Hear hear for The Scribe. Can we have you as one of our councillors please?
The Telegraph seem to relish these stories where something positive takes place (a new building; a new play area; a new potential possible maybe new event coming to the area perhaps) and the labour spin doctors claim how great they are because of it! Why MUST every news story have a quote from "Councillor Someone or other"? Shouldn't we be all judging the council's performance on their track record on services and delivery over their four years in power? Rather how many press articles they can get their name into? Do they really think that the electorate are that naive? I don't mind anyone having their name in a good news story but I have to admit that it would be much fairer if the people named had actually worked on the project featured.
But I suppose a "non spin" approach would limit the number of people employed in PR for the Council wouldn't it? And heaven forbid that would ever happen. Come on guys, we all know you read these pages :-)
The truth is out there...”
by jack slipper, scunny
Thursday, October 28 2010, 5:24PM
“Here Here....To The Scribe to Capt Kirk and his crews folly's, Pittwood House”
by The Scribe to Capt Kirk and his crews folly's, Pittwood House
Thursday, October 28 2010, 1:32PM
“Nice to see that Scunthorpe and North Lincolnshire Labour old guard never change. This time Councillor Tony Gosling, Cabinet member for children's services at North Lincolnshire Council is really excited about a project that his group believed would be written off if Labour wasn¿t returned to Government. Yet again they¿ve been proven wrong and to be nothing but political spinners.”