Schools Backlog Maintenance Programme 2020-2024

Overall project value:

Locally Maintained Schools, Backlog Maintenance - £36M

Ex PFI schools, Backlog Maintenance - £12M

DDA works across all Schools - £3M

SEN - £4M

CO2 - £4M

Overall project programme:

This is a four year programme of work

This four year programme consists of five separate workstreams. 

Local Authority maintained schools - this workstream is addressing backlog maintenance to 39 local authority maintained schools. The current investment levels to correct backlog maintenance in these schools is the most significant for many years.

Private Finance Initiative schools - there are a further 28 schools within this workstream where the programme undertakes backlog maintenance works, with the funding for these schools coming from PFI credits.

Typically across both the LA maintained and PFI schools programmes we deliver projects ranging in value from £2,000 to over £1m in each school addressing upwards of 70 individual projects per annum. 

SAI workstream - this workstream seeks to provide facilities to improve access to schools throughout Cornwall. The projects are to create facilities to allow pupils with either learning or physical difficulties to be able to remain in mainstream education. We typically deliver 10-12 projects per annum, with a cost ranging from £30,000 to £250,000. 

Special Education Needs workstream - this workstream is to provide facilities for pupils with special educational needs, often refurbishing and developing existing facilities within existing area resource bases (ARBs). We are currently delivering three projects with construction costs between £150,000 and £350,000 each. 

CO2 workstream - this workstream seeks to address high levels of carbon dioxide present in science and food technology rooms across 11 secondary schools. Projects have a construction cost of between £200,000 and £750,000 each and we deliver two or three projects on an annual basis. 

The challenge with all of these workstreams is that the works need to be undertaken whilst not affecting the day-to-day operation of the schools. Therefore, there tends to be a considerable focus of construction activity during the summer holiday periods but increasingly, due to the size of the investment programme we are managing, works are occurring in term time, which brings an added layer of complexity to be able to safely manage these works.

Services Provided & Delivery Partners:

MWJV manages the backlog maintenance programme across all of the workstreams. This includes assessing condition survey data and prioritising works to be undertaken at each school. 

In addition to the core four-person management team, we use a number of our building surveying and M&E delivery partners.

Sustainability / Carbon Neutral

When we are undertaking areas of backlog maintenance, for example replacing roof coverings, the opportunity is taken to improve thermal performance of that element to current building regulation standards. Wherever M&E equipment is being replaced, for example boilers, we take the opportunity to replace the previous system with a modern energy efficient piece of equipment. 

The programme is currently engaging with Carbon Neutral Cornwall, as well as assisting schools to bid for Salix funding, to try to improve sustainability across the programme. 

Engagement / Added Value

This is a well-established programme with a good understanding between the client and MWJV which provides effective delivery. 

As a result, despite Covid in 2021, all schools works were completed in time for schools to open for the new term in September. 

Schools Basic Needs Programme 2019-2023

Overall project value:

£39 million with extension to £61 million

Overall project programme:

2019 to 2023 with extension to 2027

This DFE funded programme, which commenced in 2019, is delivering new schools and school expansions across Cornwall to provide much-needed additional pupil places. It includes primary and secondary schools and is increasing the diversity and choice of education provision.

Eight projects are in pre-construction, three in construction and three completed and in post-construction (see table below).

Services Provided & Delivery Partners

Project Management, Quantity Surveying, Architecture, Engineering and Surveying.

Sustainability / Carbon Neutral

Modular options for schools expansion have been considered and are being used on a number of sites.

Engagement / Added Value

Engagement and regular communication directly with the Headteacher and any designated school contacts by MWJV has been absolutely critical to delivery. In addition, MWJV has led engagement with Elected Members, Town/Parish Council and Community Link Officers.

This model programme has demonstrated a high degree of trust between the Client, Schools and MWJV teams in line with the Construction Playbook principles.