Jesse Gray Primary School
Nottinghamshire County Council approached Arc Partnership to deliver the phased 23-project programme, enhancing the county’s schools and learning facilities, ensuring Nottinghamshire’s youngest residents are able to learn in a modern, efficient and optimal environment.
Originally constructed in 1951, the £1.25m school project was designed and project managed by Arc Partnership and involved replacing doors and windows, double glazing the entire school, improving ventilation and air flow and improving security. Bringing the whole school up to modern-day standards, it was also the first time that the heating had been replaced since the 1960s.
With the school building more than 70 years old, the lack of internal wall space, and no usable ceiling voids, provided our team with considerable challenges to provide a design that met the engineering requirements in bringing the school up to standard, that was also aesthetically acceptable.
Taking a fabric first approach, the decision to replace the aging glazing throughout the school was taken to decrease heat loss, improve insulation and reduce noise. Additionally, a new high-efficiency gas boiler system was also proposed, with fully modulating control, together with weather compensation and optimum start and stop, to maximise efficiencies throughout.
Heat emitters within almost all areas of the school are controllable fan convectors, to provide accurate room temperature control, and minimise warm up times.
Flyscreens were also fitted to new windows and doors in the school kitchen to allow the hot kitchen environment to have much welcomed fresh cool air.
Arc Partnership also replaced original single glazed solid metal framed windows for a slimline thermally broken aluminium window and door system with doubled glazing to meet current building regulations.
These measures should reduce the school’s energy consumption and reduce carbon emissions, in line with Nottinghamshire County Council’s net zero carbon aspirations.
The whole school now benefits from improved and increased natural ventilation, providing better air quality for an optimal learning environment. The security of the building with modern door and window locks has improved and reduced maintenance issues.
The school is now more energy efficient and already benefiting from reduced heating bills.
"The works have transformed the school, we now have an all year round improvement to the environment, security and energy cost reductions. The entire process was very well managed with excellent service and communication throughout. The lack of disruption to a mostly fully open and operating school was remarkable considering the size of and scope of the project. Everyone involved from Arc Partnership, through the excellent site manager and individual contractors were informative, courteous and helpful throughout. Their consideration of health and safety and safeguarding as well as being sympathetic to the work of the school and our neighbours, was very reassuring."
Head Teacher, Jesse Gray Primary School
“As a Council, we are delighted that schools across the county will benefit from the programme and I’ve seen schools transformed in recent months, and even though the improvements at Jesse Gray were fixtures and fittings like windows, doors and heating systems, they have made a huge difference to everyday life here. I’ve been to schools across the county that have benefited from the programme and the feedback has been overwhelming positive from staff, pupils and parents.”
Councillor Tracey Taylor, Cabinet Member for Children and Families, Nottinghamshire County Council
