A £4.4m renovation at Bramley Oak Academy has moved a step closer with the first two phases now complete. Located in Guildford, the school caters for boys aged 5-11 with Special, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.
Diamond Build Group is transforming a two-storey building spanning 1,700 sqm. The overhaul will create new and improved facilities for pupils and staff, enabling the school to accommodate more children requiring SEMH support.
Half of the building has now been renovated, providing eight new classrooms and an enhanced learning environment. The work has seen Diamond Build demolish internal walls, carry out structural alterations, and install new partitions, ceilings, doors, fixtures and fittings. New mechanical and electrical (M&E) services have also been installed throughout.
Conor Cruse-Bowles, Managing Surveyor for Diamond Build, said: “The renovation is being delivered in four phases to help minimise disruption for pupils and staff. We are working very closely with teaching staff to make sure the children’s SEMH needs are considered throughout the project. A lot of our work is taking place outside of school hours and we have a communications plan in place for daily updates.
“One of the biggest challenges has been the implementation of the M&E package. New services had to be installed without affecting the existing electrical and mechanical equipment which all ran on the same system.”
Phases three and four are due to complete by the end of the year.
Bramley Oak Academy is part of London South East Academies Trust. The Trust comprises nine schools located in Bromley, Bexley, Lambeth and Surrey, offering high quality mainstream, special and alternative provision for children and young people across the region.
Diamond Build PLC has delivered a wide range of building projects for the education sector, including new builds and refurbishments for special educational needs (SEN) schools.
