St. Alban’s Catholic Academy – Safeguarding Improvements

Key Facts:

Client Name: St. Alban’s Catholic Academy
Location: Harlow
Type of client: Education, Primary Academy
Discipline provided by M+C: Architectural Design | Planning Services | Procurement | Building Surveying | Project Management
Contractors: MT Build

As the importance of safeguarding continues to grow, schools are looking to develop their facilities to ensure enhanced measures are in place to protect students from harm. St. Alban’s Catholic Academy appointed Munday + Cramer to review the current reception area and create new designs to improve upon the existing safeguarding measures.

The existing reception area for the school was located within the main foyer of the school. Limited safeguarding opportunities existed, with visitors entering the main school area before measures could be taken; with easy access to the remainder of the school. The proposed amendments focused on creating a small extension to house a lobby area. This area then remains entirely secure using security-controlled internal doors. The lobby would also provide access through a hatch and glazed screen to the reception office. The new reception office would be created through alterations to existing office space. The space planning exercise enabled a new dedicated medical room to be provided within the reception office. Within the former reception area, the space was re-used through the provision of new SEN and intervention rooms. Three new WCs were also provided for visitors and staff.

Whilst a smaller scheme, alterations within the busy reception of the school were extensive. Following a competitive tender, MT Build were appointed to deliver the scheme, along with a number of other minor building schemes at the school. The safeguarding improvements were completed during the summer break to the delight of the school.