Details
Project Details
Location
Liberty Primary School, Mitcham
Client
Merton Council
Completion
January 2025
Project Value
£500,000+
Environment
Live school environment
Sector
Education / Government / Public Sector
Duration
16 Weeks
Overview
Project Overview
KPS was appointed by Merton Council to deliver refurbishment and alteration works at Liberty Primary School in Mitcham.
The project involved adapting and upgrading existing classrooms to create a standalone Additional Resource Provision, ARP, unit within the school grounds. The works were designed to provide improved spaces for SEN children, alongside external improvements that supported safety, access and usability across the site.
Challenges
The Challenge
The project was programme-critical, with key works required ahead of the autumn term. As with many education projects, timing was a major consideration, with noisy and disruptive works needing to be completed during the school holiday period.
KPS also needed to manage the works in a way that protected the school environment, supported safeguarding requirements and allowed the remaining programme to continue safely once term time resumed.
Refurbishment
Scope of Works
The project included a combination of internal alterations, refurbishment works, external improvements and security upgrades to create suitable spaces for the ARP classes and afterschool club.
Key Works Included
Structural alterations to create new classroom openings
Partitioning works to reconfigure existing spaces
Classroom refurbishment and alterations
Creation of a standalone ARP unit
Groundworks and tarmacking
Installation of secure fencing
Access control upgrades
Formation of two new playground spaces
Staff car park improvements
Decoration works
Flooring works
Mechanical and electrical works
Fire door installations
Acoustic panelling
Installation
Phased Delivery Around the School Programme
Due to the tight timeframe and the need to complete key works before the autumn term, the project was split into two phases.
The first phase focused on completing noisy and civil works during the summer break. This allowed the site team to undertake the more disruptive elements while the school was closed. Once term resumed, KPS secured the working areas and continued with quieter internal works, including decoration, flooring, mechanical and electrical works, fire door installations, access control alterations and acoustic panelling.
Coordination
Working Within a Live Education Environment
Education projects require a clear understanding of how the building is used and how works may affect pupils, staff and day-to-day school operations.
KPS worked collaboratively with the school’s senior leadership team and Merton Council project managers throughout the programme, maintaining communication and adapting the works to suit the school environment.
Result
The Result
Despite the short lead-in and demanding delivery timeframe, KPS successfully delivered the refurbishment and alteration works to create improved SEN provision at Liberty Primary School.
The completed project provided upgraded internal learning spaces, secure external play areas and improved site functionality, with the final result well received by both the school team and end users.
CALL TO ACTION
Planning Works Within an Education Environment?
If you are planning refurbishment, alteration or specialist upgrade works within a school or education setting, KPS can provide the structure, coordination and programme control needed to deliver the project properly.