PSB0016

Written evidence submitted by St Aloysius RC VA Infant School

Summary

• In July 2014 we submitted an application for PSBP2 and were subsequently declined in February 2015. 

• Our application was based firstly upon projected pupil numbers in Hebburn, South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council, over the next 3-10 years 

• Secondly, the Infant school was built in 1928, as a prefabricated building and is constructed of asbestos panels to walls and ceilings both internally and externally which prevents any building improvements. 

• Our kitchen, dining areas and two classrooms are housed in prefabricated temporary buildings dating from the 1950’s, which are not fit for purpose.

• The classrooms in the main body of the building house 30 children in classrooms designed for 24 children.

Factual information

1. We are a rapidly improving, oversubscribed, federation of an Infant and Junior school. 

2. We recently commissioned an independent condition survey of our Infant school buildings which highlighted the following problems:

• The external walls of the main building consist of asbestos cement cladding panels with painted softwood moulds over joints.

• The lintels to the window openings are significantly corroded, which has resulted in expansion and lifting of the brickwork joints causing a horizontal crack at this level allowing rainwater ingress to the framework behind.  Currently the repair to the external cladding is not feasible due to the risk of asbestos contamination.
• There is evidence of diagonal cracking to the East corner, the repair is not feasible due to the risk of asbestos contamination.
• The older temporary classrooms have extensive wet rot decay and the brick piers on which they are built have subsided and are beyond cost effective repair.
• The windows are single glazed and the floorboards exposed with no insulation. They consist of asbestos linings and the cost of repair is prohibitive.
• A complete overhaul of the gutters and cast iron rainwater pipes is required.
• It is recommended that all the temporary portakabins be demolished.
• The assembly hall ceiling and inner walls are asbestos panels and are thermally inadequate with evidence of rising damp.
• Due to the increase of electrical appliances within the school the mains is undersized and needs upgrading.
• Cost of immediate necessary repairs: £2,463,000

Recommendations

1. To make clear how our rapidly improving schools can cater for the current needs of pupils and the future needs of our community, in a school not fit for purpose with no timeline for significant improvements.

2. To consider that the PSBP2 programme may be flawed in that too many schools are chasing too little money with no realistic chance of being successful in their bids.

3. To publish the formula used to determine who would receive funding.

Appendices

1. Asbestos cement gable end (consistent with rest of the building)

2. Temporary buildings from 1950’s

3. Evidence of reduced ventilation due to obscured air bricks –
4. Cracked window openings

5. Plinth brick ventilated cavity

March 2015