The Hastings Academy Statement of Community Involvement November 2010 EDCO WSP KIER HillcrestSchool RyeRoad Hastings EastSussexTN355DN EastSussexCountyCouncil StatementofCommunityInvolvement ApplicationforthedemolitionofexistingHillcrestSchool (excludingtheSportsCentre)andconstructionoftwo storeyAcademyComplex(ClassD1),includingdininghall, performanceareas,andadaptableteachingspaces, extensiontosportshall,alongwithafloodlitallweather pitch,associatedcarandcycleparking,andnewvehicular andpedestrianaccesses. November2010 page 3 CONTENTS SECTION1–INTRODUCTION SECTION2–COMMUNITY,STAFF&PUPILENGAGEMENT 2.1 Pupilconsultation/engagement 2.2 Staffconsultation/Engagement 2.3 Consultation/engagementwithparentsandthewiderpublic 2.4 ConsultationwithStaffDuringtheBidProcess 2.5 ConsultationwithESCCPlanningStrategicPlanningAdvisor(Transport andEnvironmentDepartment)&ESCCTransportDevelopmentControl 2.6 MinimumDesignStandardsReview 2.7 PublicConsultationEventHeldon16thNovember2010 2.8 OnͲgoingConsultation SECTION3–CONCLUSION APPENDIX1–PressClippings APPENDIX2–AcademyNewsletter page 4 SECTION1–INTRODUCTION 1.1 ThisStatementhasbeenpreparedinsupportofafullplanningapplicationmadeby EastSussexCountyCouncilChildren’sServicesAuthorityforthedevelopmentofThe HastingsAcademytoprovideanewtwostoreyAcademyComplexandextensionto sportshall,alongwithafloodlitallweatherpitch,associatedcarandcycleparking, andnewvehicularandpedestrianaccesses. 1.2 KierRegionalwaschosenbyEastSussexCountyCouncil(ESCC)asthepreferred contractorafteracompetitivetenderprocess. 1.3 Thedesignoftheproposalhasbeenconsideredbythekeystakeholdersatvarious stagesduringthedesignprocess.Thepublicwerekeptinformedduringthisperiod throughcommunitynewsletters,website,localmeetingsandcoverageinthelocal media. 1.4 Priortosubmittingtheapplication,theapplicantanditsprofessionaladvisershave engagedextensivelywithofficersoftheCountyCouncil,externalstatutoryandnonͲ statutoryconsulteesandhaveexhibitedtheproposalstothepublicinpublic consultationeventsatarangeoflocations. page 5 SECTION2–COMMUNITY,STAFF&PUPILENGAGEMENT Therehasbeenanongoingconsultationprocesswithvariousstakeholdersoverthelast sevenmonths.Thesehavetakenvariousformsrangingfromworkshopstopublic exhibitions.Theeventsthathavebeenheldaresummarisedbelow. 2.1 Pupilconsultation/engagement EngagementwiththecommunityovertheAcademiesstarted18monthsagowith thestatutoryprocessesrequiredtochangethestatusoftheschools.Thecapital elementhasbeenanimportantelementofrealisingthevisionofthesponsorsand thereforepartoftheextensivestatutoryconsultationprocesses.Inthelast7 monthsthedesignsforthecapitalelementoftheAcademiesprojecthaveevolved andbeenanimportantpartoftheconsultationevents. APupilengagementwasheldpriortothecontractorITTprocess.Thiswasfocussed aroundthedevelopmentofaPupilBriefforthenewacademyInvolvingTheSorrell Foundation.AfinalreportoftheworkoftheSorrellFoundationisavailableon request. Dates: EarlyApril2010.ThefirststepwasaschoolͲwidequestionnaireexercisewhere pupilssetouttheirprioritiesforthenewAcademy. 20April2010.ChallengeDayatTheYoungDesignCentre,SomersetHouse,London, attendedby30pupilsrepresentingtheschool.Buildingvisitswerealsoheldand thisstartedtheprocessofformulatingtheirbriefaroundkeyissues. 21Ͳ28April2010.TheConversation.ThepupilsthatattendedtheChallengeDay discussedtheissueswiththeircolleaguesfromacrosstheschoolandcanvassed theiropinions. 29April2010.Briefday,SussexCoastCollege,Hastings:attendedbythe30pupil representatives.Thebriefwasdevelopedandpresented. May2010.ThePrintedPupilBriefdocumentissued. TheoutcomeofthisprocesswasthatthePupilBriefwasissuedtoKierasapartof thebriefingdocumentsatITTstage.Thisinformedthesubsequentdesign developmentanddiscussionsbetweenKierandthepupilsduringITTengagement sessions. page 6 2.2 Staffconsultation/Engagement A‘SpacestoDevelop’seminarwasundertakenwithstafftoidentifytheirkeyissues andprioritiesareforthenewacademydesign.Over400staffactivelytookpart. Dates: 16July2010:The‘SpacestoDevelop’seminarwasundertakenformingapartofthe staffVisioningDay,addressingeducationvisionanddesign,forallHastingsandSt LeonardsAcademiespredecessorschoolstaff.Theseminarshadactiveinvolvement fromallstaff(around300intotal)andfeaturedashorttalkandthenthreebreakͲ outsessions. Theoutcomewasabookletwhichdocumentstheworkproducedduringthesession. ThiswasbeenissuedtoAcademiesSponsorsandKierandinformedthe developmentofthedesign.Thisbookletisavailableonrequest. 2.3 Consultation/engagementwithparentsandthewiderpublic AcademiesopendayswereheldatthepredecessorschoolsandPrioryMeadow shoppingcentreincentralHastings(sessionsleadbyCambridgeEducation). ThesewerepublicisedinadoubleͲpagespreadintheHastingsObserverw/c20 September,includingpreliminary(ITTͲstage)imagesoftheKierdesign. Dates: 25Sept2010:PrioryMeadowshoppingcentre.Alldaydisplayoftheproposed HastingsAcademydesign(asitwasthen,ITTdesign)toraiseawarenessofthe Academy,withthePrincipalDesignateandothersonhandtofieldquestionsand canvasopinion. 28Sept2010:TheGroveschool.OpeneveningforStLeonardsAcademywhich featuredadisplayoftheproposed(ITTͲstage)HastingsAcademy,withmembersof theprojectteamonͲhandtoanswerquestionsandfieldopinion. 05Oct2010:.HillcrestSchool.OpeneveningforHastingsAcademywhichfeatureda displayoftheproposed(ITTͲstage)design,withmembersoftheprojectteamonͲ handtoanswerquestionsandfieldopinion.Theopeneveningwasfornew audienceofpotentialparentsforYear7children(Sept2011).Thiswasaverywell attendedeventthatisbeingreflectedinthepreferencesbeingplacedforpupilsto attendtheacademyinitsfirstacademicyear. page 7 2.4 ConsultationwithStaffDuringtheBidProcess 2.5 ConsultationwithESCCPlanningStrategicPlanningAdvisor(Transportand DuringthecompetitivebidprocessKierheldtwoconsultationworkshopswiththe EnvironmentDepartment)&ESCCTransportDevelopmentControl HillcreststaffandstudentswhohadattendedtheSorrellFoundationexercises. Thefirstofthesewasheldon5thJulyatHillcrestSchool.Whatfollowsisaselection Throughoutthebidprocess,thedesignwasregularlyreviewedbyPeterEarl ofcommentsfromtheteachersandstaffonthedesign:Ͳ (StrategicPlanningAdviser).Kier’sbidsubmissionspecificallyaddressedfeedback onthedesign. Assembly Wherewouldthewholeyeargroupgather–isthecentralhalllargeenough? SinceKierhavebeennamedpreferredbidder,thisprocessofconsultationwith Teachersdidnotfeelthatthesittingonfloorassemblywouldbeappropriatefor Planninghascontinued. olderstudents. Inaddition,thetransportandaccessarrangementshavebeendiscussedwiththe Teacherswillnotshiftchairsaroundalthoughtheycurrentlydothis. th Couldtheamphitheatrebeindoorstoprovideenoughadditionalseating. ESCCTransportDevelopmentControldepartmentatameetingon5 October2010 Nothappywithloosing2hallswithoutbeingreplaced. atLewesCountyHall. Sports Schoolsportsbuildingthisisnotsufficientinsize–notlargeenoughfor4courts. Teacherswantdancestudioandperformancespace.Thedancespaceintheexisting 2.6 MinimumDesignStandardsReview sportscentrewillnotworkasitwillberequiredforsportscurriculum. Thediplomaspacesshouldbereplacedwithaperformance/dancespacewith Kier’sproposalsfortheHastingsAcademywerepresentedtoaMinimumDesign changing.Schooldonotwantthisasitisnotincurrentcurriculum. Standardsreviewpanelduringtheengagementprocess. Changingfacilitiesarenotenoughifonlyinsportscentreasperbrief[studentsalso raisedthisasanissue]. Thatreviewoccurredatapointwheretheoverallbuildinglayoutstrategyhad Resistancematerials becomesettled,yetthedetaildesignwasstillevolving.Assuchwewereabletotest WheredoestheCADcamandotherexpensivemachinerygo.Thereisonlyone andevaluatethestrategyandgainusefulfeedbackonthedetailmovingforward. resistancematerialroom. Resistancematerialneedstohavelargematerialsdeliveredtoitandwouldbe Webelievethereviewwaspositivewiththeunderliningprincipleswithinthe preferredonthegroundfloor.Itwouldbeokonthefirstfloorprovidedtheliftis schemeacceptedasasoundandwellthoughtthroughapproach.Whatfollowsis largeenough. thedetailedfeedbackoneachofthetenCABEpointsforgoodschooldesign:Ͳ Storeroomistoosmallinbrief. Artstudio Thereare2studios.Onlyoneisprovidedinthebriefwhichisaproblemforthe 1. Identity and context: makingaschoolthestudentsandcommunitycanbeproudof teachers. x Locationofthebuildingonthesitemakesastrongcivicstatement,withstrongandclear Traveldistance accessarrangementsfromRyeRoad Currentlyittakestoolongtotravelbetweenclassroomsasthebuildingsarespread x GoodviewsofthesurroundingareasfromthemainAcademybuilding out. Science x TheproposalrelateswelltoAreaofOutstandingNaturalBeauty(AONB). Superlabasopenspacedoesnotworkandwouldneedtobeseparatedanddivided x TheproposalmeetstheSponsor’svisionforcommunitypresenceandaccessforcommunity intoasmallerrooms.Largeclassesdonotwork. isveryclearandwelcoming Sciencewishlist–refertodocument. x TheAcademybuildinglacksstrongidentityandcharacterwhenviewedfromthepublicrealm Staffareas duetomassing,elevationtreatmentandweakentranceelevation Theteachersarehappywithsharingroomsandsomecouldbeopenplanlikegeneral office. Meetingroomtobeclosetoreception 2. Location: makingbestuseofthesite x TheAcademybuildingislocatedwellonsiteforaccess,thereisaclearlinkagebetween Thesecondconsultationwasheldon19thJulyinasimilarforum.Atthismeetingthe AcademyandSportsCentrebuildingsandcleardelineationbetweenpublicandprivatesite developeddesignwaspresentedanddiscussedwiththestaff. areas. page 8 x Thecoveredwalkwayisoutsideofthesecurelineandsoitappearstobeinaccessibleto x Thesecuritylinewithinthebuildinggivingcommunityaccesstocentralareasbutnot pupils,itisalsounclearhowmuchshelterthecoveredwaywouldprovide. honeycombsisclearbutitisnotclearifthisgivessufficientcommunityaccesstotoilets