McAvoy Group has delivered over £5m of new schools in England providing additional places for 1020 pupils due to an increased demand for fast-track accommodation.
The Co Tyrone-based company, which specialises in modern methods of construction, can design and build the schools in a matter of months, providing a quick and efficient solution to the current lack of capacity in the education sector.
McAvoy supplied and installed its off-site buildings to 20 schools under its recently-awarded frameworks thanks to a standardised package developed by the company. This allows McAvoy to manufacture and design the buildings for sale or hire which include ‘bulge’ classrooms used to accommodate growing numbers of pupils to over-subscribed schools.
Many schools in England are facing a classroom shortage crisis due to competition for places, but the move to accommodate growing numbers of pupils has not been without controversy, especially when it comes to ‘bulge’ classrooms – which involves the extending of school premises. However, local MPs have welcomed the development saying additional classrooms are better than bigger classes.
Schools under the Hampshire and Surrey framework included Twyford St Marys, Wellstead, Great Binfield, St John the Baptist, Parkview, Alfred Sutton, Ridgeway, Caversham Primary, The Hill, Mooring Way, Stamshaw and Westover all of which required more classrooms. And under the Hillingdon framework, McAvoy provided relocation services to Chantry School. The framework duration is four years which is forecast to be in the region of £5m a year.
Meanwhile, seven schools including The Glade Brandon, Houldsworth Valley, Norton, Haverhill, Wells Hall, Barnham and Wattisham Fire Station got the McAvoy treatment with new facilities added under the Suffolk County Council framework. All buildings exceed current regulation standards and have sophisticated M&E systems ensuring low running costs throughout the life of the building.
Orla Corr OBE, Business Development and Marketing Director for McAvoy Group, said: “We have developed our own process and production which is why we can deliver and install classrooms on site in such a short time-frame. Our off-site building technology helps to deliver educational facilities within a reduced time-frame and with significantly less disruption on-site.”