The King John School – Kitchen Upgrade
Key Facts:
Client Name: The King John School
Location: Thundersley, Essex
Type of client: Education, Secondary Academy
Discipline provided by M+C: Design (including kitchen layout) | ACMF bid development and application | Procurement | Project Management
Value: £327,500
Contractors: BJ Davis
M+C Lead: Lee Hatwell
The King John School (KJS) in Thundersley; Essex, is one of the County’s most successful secondary academies. Performing at the very highest levels, KJS achieved an ‘outstanding’ status across all aspects of their most recent Ofsted report in September 2013.
In addition to project design and delivery, M+C provide wider Facilities and Property Management support functions for KJS. Regular condition surveys and asset management planning enabled this scheme to be developed well in advance of the funding round to ensure the highest probability of success.
A very busy school catering service places pressures on the ability to undertake larger works to the kitchen, placing greater emphasis on the requirement to undertake a comprehensive kitchen upgrade and refurbishment to meet those demands. Whilst functional, the kitchen was beginning to generate H&S issues, in addition to the presence of low-risk ACMs, along with failing kitchen equipment.
Robust supporting evidence (EHO, fire officer and professional catering reviews) in addition to a full asset management plan derived from condition surveys aided the development of a weighty case. Coupled with a detailed budgetary plan (utilising contractor’s estimates alongside outline budget costings and draft programme, a strong bid submission was provided which was ultimately successful.
The scheme, completed by the end of August 2014 in time for preparing for the new school year, has created a new kitchen facility making better use of space (developed by our in-house catering kitchen designer), with enhanced equipment, enabling further promotion and development of the catering offering.
“This kitchen refurbishment has not just enabled us to ensure we are compliant and safe in our provision, but will really enable us to focus on improving our catering proposition and developing further revenue for our school”
Katrina Bentley, The King John School