Caunton are working with Vinci PLC Company Norwest Holst yet again on a PFI Schools project. Following on from the great success by Norwest Holst (with Caunton their steelwork supplier) on the Derby PFI schools contract, Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council has announced Vinci PLC as its preferred partner for the £45 million Doncaster Schools PFI scheme. This will provide two new secondary schools at Edlington and Mexborough. It is announced by the Council to build these two 1344 place schools able to deliver a modern curriculum with appropriate facilities.
Architect Frank Shaw Associates report that they are in fact currently working on the design of the Secondary School in Mexborough. The school has specialist science status and incorporates a post-16 centre. The architect adds that the school is designed to promote community engagement and extended learning and has been invested with a sense of drama and dynamism in order to create an environment where pupils want to be, and where they will find learning an exciting and rewarding experience. Architect Race Cottam is working on the design of Edlington. The existing cluster of 1960’s buildings on a windswept rural site has been replaced by a single building with teaching spaces arranged over three floors on two wings that radiate from a central heart space. Edlington which will be renamed the Sir Thomas Wharton Community College has been awarded specialist “business and enterprise” status, and the design incorporates state of the art IT suites and facilities for bringing industry into the school.
Mayor of Doncaster Martin Winter has said: "Vinci has a proven track record in delivering major projects and prides itself on exceeding the expectations of its clients. I am confident that our partnership will be highly successful and that the new schools will play a significant part in raising levels of attainment, behaviour and health amongst young people in Doncaster." David Finch, Director of VINCI Investments Limited added: “We look forward to delivering first class modern educational facilities for over 3000 students and staff before the end of 2008.”
Caunton look forward to being part of their team to deliver this. Caunton will be fabricating, supplying and erecting over 800te of steelwork, working to engineer Scott Wilson’s design on the two schools. Both schools combine steel framed and concrete framed construction in adjacent independent wings. Caunton provided initial cost engineering advice to Norwest and Scott Wilson to assist economical development of the scheme design.
Doncaster has announced too that the authority will be joining the Building for Schools (BSF) programme in 2008. Initial plans have not been confirmed although at present they are considering 2 new builds and the rest refurbishments. Caunton hope that their experience at nearby Sheffield with the BSF program there for Taylor Woodrow will stand them in good stead to help even further with Doncaster schools.