Peacehaven Schools
The background
Providing children with modern learning environments that are equipped with the latest technology and resources is key to delivering a high-quality education to young people. At the time, schools within Peacehaven, East Sussex, UK were outdated and no longer met the requirements of the students. As the population of the local community grew, so did the demand for new and improved schools.
To meet the needs of students and tackle capacity issues, East Sussex County Council decided to deliver a new secondary school, rebuild three primary schools and an extension of one primary school, altogether accommodating more than 2,000 pupils.
In 2000, East Sussex County Council awarded Invesis the PFI contract to design, build, finance and maintain the concession. By partnering with Invesis, the schools have been successfully maintained to standard that meets the terms of the PFI contract. As a result, East Sussex County Council has provided learning environments that students and teachers can be proud of.
Client
East Sussex County Council
Capital Value
€22m
Sponsor/Investor
Invesis
Consortium
Peacehaven Schools Ltd
Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC)
BAM Construction
Operations and Maintenance (O&M)
EMCOR FM
Business value.
From the onset of the partnership, Invesis worked collaboratively with the client, stakeholders and our selected partners to optimise the project’s design. East Sussex County Council’s aim was to deliver an asset with spacious, state-of-the-art classrooms fitted with the latest technology. The schools were equipped with modern facilities and designed to make use of natural lighting and ventilation.
The Peacehaven Schools project incorporated an ICT provision and lifecycle/refresh regime which was designed to meet the anticipated needs of the schools. As a result, the schools are equipped with the latest ICT, providing teachers with the tools they need to deliver the latest curriculum effectively.
The project has been operational for 23 years and we continue to work closely with the authority and our partners, to deliver a range of managed services to ensure the schools are maintained to a high standard.
Key features.
By using the PFI model and working with Invesis, the project…
- was delivered on time and on budget with minimal disruptions despite being constructed within a live environment
- integrated community use opportunities such as ICT skills for the elderly both during and after the school day and basic curriculum skills such as English and Math’s are offered to the pupils’ parents
- was commended for its design by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) in October 2002, John Jenkins (CABE) commented on the project: “(It) represents a new benchmark against which all future projects would be measured”.
