PUPILS and staff at a leading educational trust are reaping the benefits of major works to improve further the learning environment.
The Education Village Academy Trust in Darlington has carried out significant upgrades at its main Haughton site and other primary schools across the town.
“Excellence in learning is built on two foundations, exceptional teaching and an environment that enables pupils and staff to thrive,” said EVAT executive director for shared services and operations Shirley Riley.
“We are fortunate to have outstanding colleagues across our schools and these investments ensure they have the facilities, technology and surroundings needed to deliver the very best educational experience.”
EVAT runs Haughton Academy, Springfield Academy and Beaumont Hill Academy at the Education Village, a PFI building in Salters Lane South. Over the road it operates the recently opened Beaumont Hill Sixth Form College. Across Darlington, it also runs Gurney Pease Primary School, Marchbank Free School, Whinfield Primary School and Reid Street Primary School.
The estate and ICT team comprises Simon Frost, David Hardcastle, Roger Harsley, Lewis Edney, Stephanie Hall and Iain Bainbridge.
A significant investment from a variety of funding sources has seen new IT installed, including 107 interactive adjustable classroom screens in four of the schools. The system gives pupils and staff access to a bespoke learning package.
Head of IT Stephanie Hall said: “The screens work with any style of teaching and levels of literacy.
“Until now schools had different technology on each site and we wanted a universal setup so staff and pupils can share the same experience to minimise any potential disruption to teaching.
“The new equipment is also much more ecologically friendly which will reduce our carbon footprint and it has a really long lifespan.”
Project manager Iain Beveridge added: “It’s about supporting teaching by giving them an exceptional experience.”
The estates team began the process by talking to head teachers to gauge their specific requirements and surveying all of the schools.
Stephanie said: “Nobody knows their schools and pupils better than the teachers themselves. They know the best teaching positions and layouts to make the rooms work efficiently.
“For instance, we now have science rooms with a camera in the middle so experiments can be projected on to screen at the front and the back of the classroom, so all pupils can see them clearly, or they can use their own interfaces if they are working in smaller groups.”
At Reid Street, a Victorian period school near Darlington Hospital, they have responded to changing demographics, increased SEND needs and birth rates by altering facilities and building a new nursery on site, which will cater for 25 children in the morning and the same number in the afternoon.
Other improvements include toilet refurbishments, improvements to internal floors, the conversion of former reception classrooms into dedicated SEND provision areas, installation of curriculum-focused wall wraps, replacement of internal wayfinding and informational signage, replacement of worktops and sinks within art classrooms, renewal of keyboard drawers within music areas and the full redecoration of the Learning Resource Centre in Haughton.
Outside, work includes drainage repairs to address flooding and improve surface water management, removal of playground quarry tiles and resurfacing in tarmac, renewal of fencing, landscaping works, essential roof and window repairs, rendering and painting, installation of upgraded LED external lighting, new external teaching and storage facilities, enhancements to a 3G pitch and the installation of new lighting within the hydrotherapy pool.