SB 4156 32pp WEB

Case Study
The increasingly important role of offsite
in education
With an unprecedented shortage of schools in this country, it is clear to see that despite what doomsayers print, the UK has a
voracious appetite for buildings that isn’t going away any time soon. How we choose to deliver these buildings is ultimately up
to us. The real question is this; can we quickly build enough to meet an ever increasing demand? Only if we change our
methods. School Building Magazine Editor Joe Bradbury discusses:
Our industry needs to change. To do
this, we must cast a critical eye
over our own behaviour and
acknowledge our shortcomings; something
many feel understandably hesitant to do.
The bad news is that the UK construction
industry is currently responsible for 45% of
total UK carbon emissions, 32% of all landfill
waste and is responsible for more water
pollution incidents than any other industry.
Are these really the lessons we want to teach
our children, who cut their teeth in buildings
that serve as a physical embodiment of this
harsh reality? Thankfully, we have the
knowledge, skills and technology to facilitate
real change in the world, when we put our
minds to it… and we really need to!
The scale of the challenge
There are currently 32,113 schools and 142
universities in the UK. Studies suggest that
over two-thirds of these buildings are
considered "not fit for purpose" by their head
teachers and deans, who cite leaks, asbestos,
faulty heating and damp as common
problems.
Overall pupil numbers are also expected to
increase by 654,000 to around 8.1m by 2026.
In secondary schools alone, the overall
population is projected to reach around 3.3m
in 2026, a 19.1% increase of around 534,000
more pupils.
In 2016, procurement specialists Scape Group
estimated that in order to meet this
increasing demand, we needed to have been
building 2,000 new schools each year in the
run up to 2020. Where we are with this is
anyone’s guess, but what is clear from
assessing the figures above is the vastness of
the challenge. It will require dedication and a
collaborative approach to overcome. Only by
pulling together as an industry and trying
new things can we deliver the new learning
environments so desperately needed within
any meaningful timeframe.
The answer is offsite
Considering that time is of the essence, allow
me to remind you that an offsite solution can
be delivered in a matter of weeks, with
minimal onsite disturbance. This makes it
perfect for schools, because work can be
carried out in between terms to minimise
disruption for students and pupils. Why turn
your place of learning into a building site for
months at a time, temporarily attempting to
teach from temporary, leaky, cold structures?
This is not conducive to learning and
interrupts student routine at a time when
they need to be focussed on their studies.
Offsite construction is far less energy
intensive than traditional building methods,
meaning it is better for the environment; a
message that must be taught to the next
generation!
The carbon footprint left by the many
construction vehicles and machinery on the
site of a traditional construction project alone