The East Northamptonshire College Transport System to Enable
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The East Northamptonshire College Transport System To enable students from any of the four schools to access post 16 curriculum provision on any of the four sites, the 11-18 schools of East Northamptonshire, (Ferrers, Huxlow, Manor and Rushden) operate their own cohesive and integrated transport system which allows students to move between the schools at no cost to themselves. The schools sub contract the transport to a local coach company who run coaches between the schools at strategic points throughout the day, determined by the aligned school timetables. The system is fully funded by the schools and has been in operation for the last 15 years. Since the introduction of a vocational curriculum in Key Stage 4, the transport network has been extended to allow for a minority of KS 4 students to travel between sites and to the Trades Academy in Higham Ferrers. The timetable below shows the coach timetable: Coach 1 Rushden Ferrers Manor Huxlow 8.30 8.40 8.50 9.05 Huxlow Manor Ferrers Rushden 10.30 10.40 10.50 11.00 Rushden Ferrers Manor Huxlow 12.45 12.50 13.00 13.10 Huxlow Manor Huxlow Ferrers 14.55 15.10 15.20 15.30 Rushden Ferrers Huxlow Manor 15.35 15.40 16.00 16.10 Coach 2 Huxlow Manor Ferrers Rushden 8.30 8.45 8.55 9.00 Rushden Ferrers Manor Huxlow 10.30 10.40 10.50 11.05 Huxlow Manor Ferrers Rushden 12.45 12.55 13.05 13.10 At most times during the day the coaches are full and transporting over 50 students. DESIGN & ACCESS STATEMENT Vocational Learning Centre at Huxlow Science College for East Northamptonshire Partnership prepared by Peter Haddon and Partners Architects June 2008 080618nd3738A2fs D&A Huxlow SITE CONTEXT Background: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) Northamptonshire Strategic Area Review (StAR) conducted in 2004/5 highlighted the need to improve educational achievement of young people across the county, particularly those obtaining qualifications aged 19. In 2006 in Northamptonshire LSC set out a statement of need for the East Northamptonshire Area and sought proposals for an innovative scheme to achieve the stated objectives. In response to this need the East Northamptonshire Partnership (ENP), a partnership of the five mainstream secondary schools in the area of need and two further education colleges was formed to formulate a strategy for the provision of new facilities. It was recognised that the need for new vocational places could not be solved through the creation of a single new institution. A proposal, which integrated new provision into the existing infrastructure and followed a themed design on each of the five sites would be the most effective and sustainable way of improving participation and attainment. An assessment of the provision currently on offer showed that the existing schools lacked the space and the facilities to deliver all the specialised vocational courses at the levels which are being requested by students and which are desperately needed by employers for the growth of the local economy. Proposals: The East Northamptonshire Partnership proposals involves constructing a specialist Applied Learning Centre on each school partnership site, each one delivering a range of different specialised learning pathways and offering students genuine choice and flexibility regardless of their home base institution. Learners will travel between sites using an integrated and cohesive transport network which will be an expanded version of the system currently in place across East Northamptonshire (refer separate statement). Each centre will comprise an area for specialist vocational learning together with rooms for traditional support teaching, tutorials, administration, staff and toilet facilities. The completed project will create vocational learning places for 16-19 year olds across the East Northamptonshire Learning Area offering a range of applied learning. The subject of this application is Huxlow Science College, Irthlingborough which will offer Society Health and Social Development together with Land Based Studies as it’s specialism. Separate applications will also be made for the remaining schools/colleges within the ENC as follows:- Ferrers Specialist Arts College Creative and Media including Music Manor School and Sports College, Raunds Catering and Hospitality Prince William School, Oundle Engineering Rushden Community College Hair and Beauty Care 080618nd3738A2fs D&A Huxlow Page 2 of 6 DESIGN BASIS pHp Philosophy Statement: Peter Haddon and Partners Architects are committed to a policy of equality, inclusion and accessibility achievable through good design. The basic right for access to and use of buildings for all is recognised as the most fundamental basis upon which the design should be established. The design process offers an opportunity to maximise individuals’ abilities to enjoy a safe and, wherever possible, independent participation. It is recognised that all individuals have a range of abilities which vary greatly and some of which may be impaired requiring consideration upon the Designer’s part to ensure that as wide a range of abilities as possible are accommodated. The design process is unique for each development as the distinctive requirements for a Client/End User will be specific to that project. For this reason we view the Client/End User as a part of the Design Team to ensure that the ‘inclusive design for all’ philosophy is adopted from the inception stage. As Designers, we endeavour to work to the latest legislation and good practice guidance available at the time, also taking into account advice and comments received as a result of consultations with Access Consultants and Local Groups. It is the aim of the practice to adopt the guidance from these sources so far as is reasonably practical for the type and nature of the building, the restrictions of the site and the intended occupiers. Building Site Location: The proposed building location utilises an irregular shaped and unused area of site to the side of the main playing fields and to the rear of the existing hard surfaced netball courts which are to be retained. The location has also been determined by assessment of future development plans and in particular consideration of connectivity to the existing Applied Learning Facilities and existing services and is indicated on plan drawing 3738/201. Other considerations have been: - Land based study requirement for ease of access to external facilities and propagation beds to be developed. Minimise adverse environmental impact on areas surrounding the school. New building and entrance to be identifiable and accessible feature. Safe circulation from existing facilities. Building Design: The Applied Learning Centre was conceived as a pavilion structure of approximately 510m2 that could be adapted to serve each specific site and location whilst retaining common elements for economy and utility. The building uses a structural frame to provide a clear span to give flexibility to the internal layout and a freedom to adapt it to each specific or future use of the building. The frame also provides the opportunity to extend the roof beyond the external envelope to create a covered walkway to the building perimeter. This device also assists in shading the windows to reduce the effects of glare and solar gains. The steel frame enables the external envelope to adapt to the site specific requirements for windows and door locations, placing them exactly where they need to be to serve a particular use. The building can then more easily adapt should that use change in the future. It also frees the external envelope of having to be load bearing materials to support the roof and thus limiting the use of large openings. The building is clad in a metal modular insulated panel using colour combinations which vary slightly from site to site. 080618nd3738A2fs D&A Huxlow Page 3 of 6 The internal layout is organised around a double height Entrance/Reception space to give light and air to avoid long dark circulation spaces, but create a room rather than a corridor serving the rooms within. This element also acts as a device to clearly signify the main entrance and acts as a hub around which the main spaces circulate. The building and site plans are indicated on drawing 3738/201 with elevations on drawing 3738/202. Appearance / Materials: The existing site and buildings comprise mostly of traditional masonry construction in a variety of styles inherent with the school’s development over recent decades. The East Northants College Partnership requirement for a building of commonality over 5 sites provides the opportunity to present the school and students with a unique modern building clad with contemporary materials distinct from the ‘domestic’ traditional materials which have been part of their earlier learning environment. External materials briefly comprise: - External Materials: Roof: colour coated profiled metal deck. External facades: smooth self coloured modular panels colour graduated within expressed horizontal banding. Entrance transept: vertically raised seam flat metal colour coated cladding. Windows: combination construction aluminium external, timber internal. Double glazed. Roof verge: smooth self coloured verge detailing and soffit. Internal Materials: Ceilings: modular suspended ceilings. Walls: painted walls and joinery. Floors: carpet to teaching, circulation and admin spaces. vinyl to toilets and wet areas. Landscaping: Generally, the well established site landscaping will remain as existing. New landscaping will be limited to the area immediately surrounding the building briefly as follows: - Building located on unused grassed area in north-east corer of site adjacent to Irthlingborough Central Recreation Ground. The neighbouring houses to the north-east of the proposed new facility are screened by a variety of timber panel and close boarded fences some 2m high. The building will have perimeter path/mowing strip with the existing grassed surround reinstated. Planting will be restricted to low level shrubs adjacent to the pedestrian path approach and building frontage. The land based study specialism requires external propagation/cultivation beds, similar to allotments, located in the corner site to the north-east of the new building.