Expansion Update September 2018

I am pleased to be able to give you an update on the expansion works at school.

Main Block Expansion
I’m delighted to let you know that the main expansion of the school is progressing well and is due for completion by May 2019.  During the holidays scaffolding was put up and work undertaken to the kitchen extension.  The far end of the school hall was signed over to us and is now in use as a lovely new temporary classroom.  The modern, wooden external design will be replicated on the new block.

EYFS and Main Office Extension
Our reception children are already using the new exciting classrooms and we are hoping that the new extension to this area will be fully opened by early next week.  The wonderful outdoor area will be used by the EYFS children next week and final completion of this will take place over the October half term.

The new office/main entrance is progressing well and is a major improvement in the security of the site. Again, we hope this work will be completed during October half term.

Moorhens
The full expansion means that we are able to make improvements to our Moorhens provision.  Once the new block is handed over, Moorhens will have direct access to a quiet zone (our new library), a technology zone, an outdoor zone and the two chalets.  This is exciting because it will increase options for children who go to our extended school’s facility and means that Moorhens will be able to grow safely in a self-contained area of the school.

Playing Fields
The school playing field will ultimately return to a full grass area once Balfour Beatty leave the site.  The area which is presently used for Balfour’s vehicles and deliveries will return to grass.  We are now looking at ways that we can use the wildlife area for outdoor learning. 

Kind regards,
Andrew Steggall

Expansion Update 15th June

The progress being made with the expansion is in line with the anticipated schedule. A lot of progress has been made with the school's extended hall.

The extension means that the hall's size will increase by a really significant 60m2. In terms of lessons, there will only be one class in the hall at a time, so the extra space is a bonus. The contractors will extend the existing flooring. Very exciting.

In the photograph below you can see that the ground work for the main block is well underway. The crates will be filled with concrete. 

We are presently planning for our new library/ quiet area. This is located where the existing Y3 classroom is situated. Mrs Menmuir is looking at lots of different designs for book storage and we will make the space a calm but inviting area for children to read in. A big advantage of this is that Moorhens children will be able to access this area after school once the build is complete. This means that they will eventually have access to four different zones - the two chalets, the ICT suite and the new library. 

Expansion Update 24th April

During the Easter break the car park was completed. This will provide us with a significant increase in space and has had very little impact on the school's field. A large area of scrubland was cleared in order for space to be made available. Once the project has been completed the area that is presently being occupied by Balfour Beatty units will be used for additional car parking space.

There have been a lot of interesting pieces of equipment being used to do a variety of work over the last few weeks. Miss Shindler came in to school during to holidays and was very excited to have seen a large machine pumping concrete over the top of the school building.

The majority of the work at the school has been focused on the hall expansion. This is progressing well on schedule.

This is a photo of a hired Vac-Ex machine which we use to excavate around live services. It’s like a big Vacuum that removes the risk of striking live services with digger buckets!!

This is where a new pathway will connect the hall to the new block. This pathway will be sheltered and will pass through an area where there will be plants and a pond.

EYFS and School Entrance Improvements

In recent weeks we have been looking at how we can make improvements to the entrance to our school and the area immediately outside of Early Years. We have also been considering how we can make improvements to the security of our site.

The designs that we have now drawn up and have submitted for planning will enable us to make the following improvements -

Early Years

• Increased learning space for Reception children, both internally and externally.
• Modern accessible toilet facilities for Reception children.
• Access to a larger outdoor learning space for Reception children.
• A more flexible teaching area in order to enhance curriculum delivery and efficiently use resources.

Access to School

• A wider path access avoiding muddy areas.
• More secure access to the site directly to the office. 
• Unobtrusive but secure fencing.

Internal improvements

•  Improved office facilities
• Additional staff facilities

We will be giving an opportunity for parents and residents to see the plans at school in the next weeks. A letter will go out once the date has been confirmed.

This is a very exciting potential development for Moor Hall. Our priority will always be the safety and well being of the children.  We would like to improve our EYFS provision further and the plans would help us greatly in achieving this aim.

You can view the documents on our website-

http://www.moorhall.bham.sch.uk/expansion-documents

This is a school led project and so any queries should be made directly to the school.

Balfour Beatty Assembly

Balfour Beatty delivered an assembly to all the children about site safety this morning. They are also launching a competition, details to follow.

Expansion Update 27th February 2018

We return after half term with quite a few changes. During the holiday ground was cleared where the old secret garden was situated. This is to free up space for the bulk of the building work on the new block.

One of the striking things about this picture is the visibly poor condition of the existing building. In 2009 the school received in excess of £32k pa for capital work. In 2010 this was cut to £6k pa to cover building maintenance and ICT infrastructure. This has meant that during the past 7 years we have had very little funding in order to maintain our school building. £6k would hardly scratch the surface of what is required on a maintenance program. Sadly, this continues to be an issue for us.

During the holiday some asbestos was removed from the boiler house. This was mainly 'spillage' on ladders that are in the boiler house. The boiler house had been cleaned of asbestos by the LA seven years ago. The asbestos was fully contained within the boiler house and posed no threat to any of the children.

Expansion Update 15th February 2018

This week there has been further progress with the temporary car park. The area on the photograph below will eventually form the staff car park, once expansion has been completed. This will mean that we will be able to have fewer staff cars on the road outside of school. Great news for everyone!

A good proportion of the car park will be created by removing overgrown areas of 'scrubland'. This area below is part of the new car park. The area at the bottom of the page is being cleared so that we can build a forest school learning area. This is VERY exciting and we are grateful to Balfour Beatty for all of their help in starting this work.

This is a huge area that has not been used on our field. This will become our Forest School area.

Expansion Update 9th February 2018

It has been a very exciting morning this morning - the tarmac for the temporary car park has arrived. Year 1 went out to have a look at the rollers flattening the surface. They have seen where the new classrooms will be. In September 2019 they will be moving in to the new block as they will be in Year 3. although it is a long way away it is very exciting.

This is the arrival of the tarmac. This is going to be a temporary surface and will be replaced with grass once the building work has been completed.

Expansion Update 8th February part 2

 We have lots of exciting plans for our school as opportunities will arise as the result of expansion. At present, Mrs Glare and Miss phillips are working with the children to deign a new environmental area. This is with the backing of Balfour Beatty and Sutton Town Council. You can see below a design that has been produced by one of our chidren. We are aiming to create an outdoor 'forest schools' area so that the children can access outdoor learning in a natural environment.  This will be situated using some of the area that is presently scrubland on the field.

Expansion Feb 8th 2018

Work started at Moor Hall on 29th January 2018. This is one of the first photographs of Balfour Beatty starting to create temporary parking surfaces. The fencing was put up first in order to make sure that the whole area was secure and that there was clear separation from the children.

In the first week there has been a lot of progress in installing the temporary car park. Once this is operational, the staff of the school will be able to park their cars on the temporary surface and Balfour Beatty will then install cabins on the existing car park. This will mean that there will be increased car parking space for staff at the return to school on 26th February.

The surface that is nearest the school will then be used to ensure that the heavy equipment is able to operate on a secure footing. Once the work has been completed the large area that you can see below will be reinstalled as grass.

Expansion Blog Update 9 - National Schools Adjudicator's Determination

Statutory proposal to Moor Hall Primary School
Case reference: STP632

The adjudicator, Dr Bryan Slater, has reached a decision on the above case.  

A copy of his determination is published on the Office of the Schools Adjudicator (OSA) website.  The determination can be accessed by entering the case reference number in the search box of the link: www.gov.uk/government/publications.

Once a determination is issued the adjudicator is “functus officio” which means his statutory role is completed and neither he nor anyone else in the OSA can make any comment on matters considered within the determination.  The only route of appeal against the determination is by a judicial review, information on which can be found at: www.judiciary.gov.uk.

Expansion Update August 24th 2017

We have added a statement from BCC regarding the proposed expansion of our school. This can be found under news/ correspondence.

http://www.moorhall.bham.sch.uk/assets/uploaded/downloads/Moor_Hall_School_Update_-_School_Expansion_v4_220817.pdf

Expansion Blog Update 8

Process for commenting on the proposals with Planning

The planning department website can be found through www.birmingham.gov.uk website and choosing Planning and Development.  The link is:

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20008/planning_and_development

To view the details of the planning submission relating to Moor Hall choose

• View planning applications and documents, then from the box on the left of the screen choose
• Access Planning Online and finally click on
• Application Number Search.   Now type in the box the Moor Hall Planning Application reference number which is 2017/05933/PA.  You will need to scroll to the bottom of the screen and then click “Search”.  This will bring up the application detail page.

If you click on the Application Number displayed in the left hand column this will then allow you to see the full details of the Planning Application. 

You can use planning online to:

• Check the progress of current planning applications and appeals.
• Comment on applications awaiting decision.
• View documents, plans and decision notices associated with applications since January 2006.
• View the planning history of a property since 1948.

If you wish to comment on the Planning Application you can do so using Planning Online via this page.  Click on Submit Comments Here which can be found under the Application Progress Summary heading on the line which states Application Registered 20-07-2017, under the section entitled “Please Enter Comments and personal Details Below”.  Once you have completed your comments and personal details you can submit them for consideration by the Planning Department by clicking the purple “Submit” button.

The attached Statutory Site Notice gives further details about the planning consultation.

It should be noted that all comments need to be received by the Planning Depart by 17th August 2017.

Please find below the official guidance from the Planning Department for commenting on Planning Applications:

How to comment on a planning application

You can submit comments supporting or objecting to planning applications using Planning Online:

• Search for the application you wish to comment on using the Application Number or address.
• Click on ‘Add Comments Here’.
• You will usually have 3 weeks to comment on a planning application. The consultation end date will appear on Planning Online, and we cannot guarantee that any late comments will be accepted.
• If you comment on an application we will notify you of the outcome.
• To check the progress of an application visit Planning Online.

We do not currently publish comments online, but they will be available for inspection by the public and copies provided on request, therefore you should ensure that personal information is omitted from the comment text itself.

What you can say in your comment

Comments received must relate to planning matters.

These include:

• Loss of privacy
• Loss of light
• Intensity of development
• Design and appearance
• Highway matters, for example traffic and parking
• Impact on community facilities

We cannot take into account:

• Loss of property value
• Commercial competition
• Loss of view
• Disturbance during building work
• Land ownership disputes

Independent advice is available from the Citizens Advice Bureau and Planning Aid.

Other ways to comment

If you do not want to or are unable to use Planning Online, you can contact us by email or letter to let us know your comments.

If an application goes to the Planning Committee, you may request to speak at the Committee Meeting.

If you need an interpreter, or have a disability that makes it difficult to view or understand the plans, please contact us to arrange further help.

Expansion Blog Update 7

The Education Infrastructure Team have issued the following statement:

20th July 2017

Moor Hall Primary School Expansion: Update

Following the Schools Adjudicator’s conditional ruling to approve the expansion of Moor Hall School providing planning approval is granted by 21st July 2017:

• Birmingham City Council (the Local Authority) asked the Office of the Schools Adjudicator (the OSA) for a modification to the condition of achieving planning permission by 21st July 2017 (on the basis that it is difficult for the Local Authority to implement the proposal).

• In preparation, while the Local Authority awaited a response from the OSA, the Education Infrastructure Service submitted the planning application on 4th July 2017

• The OSA have responded to the Local Authority and determined that a modification to the conditional planning date is not possible.

• Due to the condition of planning permission not being achievable by 21st July 2017, the Local Authority will do the following:

• Not implement the proposal to expand Moor Hall Primary School for 1st September 2017.

• Under advisement, submit to the OSA the proposal, as outlined, with both a modified conditional date to achieve planning and modified implementation date of 1st September 2018.

• Reception places for pupils in 2017:

• The Local Authority acknowledges that not implementing the expansion for 2017 will cause inconvenience and disappointment for members of the local community that are looking for a local school place in this part of Sutton Coldfield.

• The Local Authority will continue to closely monitor the demand for Reception places during 2017 and implement reactive measures where possible.

• The Education Infrastructure Team will provide further updates when the outcome of the most recent request to the Schools’ Adjudicator is known.

• If all relevant approvals for implementation 2018 are achieved, the Local Authority’s Education Infrastructure Service will establish a Stakeholder Group for the duration of the project to ensure there is an on-going opportunity to communicate and engage with interested parties.

Expansion Blog Update 6

We have received confirmation this morning that Moor Hall School will not be able to receive any new children for Reception in September 2017.

Expansion blog 5

This is a message from BCC that will be added to the BeHeard website.

Moor Hall Primary School Expansion

Following the School’s Adjudicator’s conditional ruling to approve the expansion of Moor Hall School providing planning approval is granted by 21^st July 2017, BCC has asked for a modification on the basis that it is difficult for us to implement the proposal.  The modification we seek is that a later date of 1^st September 2017 is specified to achieve planning.  In preparation, BCC will be submitting the capital building scheme for planning on 4^th July 2017.  The Planning Application relates to the permanent build and further information about the proposal for 2017 will be issued once we have received a response from Schools' Adjudicator.

Following the pre-planning community consultation on 2^nd February 2017 there were a number of queries raised:

• Traffic measures – The school Travel Plan and Traffic Survey have been shared publicly.  As part of the scheme we will be looking to implement a number of traffic improvement measures.  These will be part of the planning requirement.
• Moorhens provision – The Moorhens before and after school provision will be maintained and provision increased to accommodate the increase in the number of children.
• Internal furniture requirements – BCC will provide financial support to the school to equip the new classrooms.
• Current buildings – Some limited remodelling of existing areas are being considered as part of the development.
• Hall space & additional space for increase in staff numbers – Following the public consultation and after further review the scheme now includes for the Hall to be extended and for additional space within the new building for the increase in staff numbers.

BCC Education Infrastructure Team will provide further updates when we know the outcome of our request to the Schools’ Adjudicator. In addition, once the scheme has been given Planning Approval we will be setting up a Stakeholder Group for the duration of the project to ensure there is an on-going opportunity to communicate with interested parties.  

Expansion blog 4

The report addresses some of the recent criticism of the school. Expansion would give our school financial stability but this could not have been put forward as a reason during the consultation process.

If a benefit in terms of a greater financial security or economies of scale from the operation of a larger school were to be gained by expansion, this would be a by-product of such a proposal. The justification for expanding the school in the first place, however, can only be the provision of high quality school places for children, and that is what is stated in the proposal, as it should have been.

Expansion blog 3

We know that some of you are worried that, should the expansion take place, it could change the ethos of our school.Our school is underpinned by a vision for the Moor Hall Child. Staff who work at our school and our governors do all they can to promote this broad, holistic view of education that is rooted in high standards. This is at the core of all we do and will remain so, whatever happens to the school in the future. We would like to have more children in our community given the opportunity to learn at our school, more staff to impart our vision.

Moor Hall School - Our Vision

The Moor Hall child is a healthy, confident and responsible child whose achievement is the very best it can be.The Moor Hall child is creative, innovative, values and nurtures key transferable knowledge, skills and attitudes in preparation for an ever changing future.

Expansion blog 2

At the Sutton Trinity Ward meeting last night questions were asked about planning permission for the existing 'Moorhens' chalet. This is a city council issue that needs to be resolved. From our perspective we have had the benefit of the additional resource since September. An example of this is where Year 6 have been able to be taught in two smaller classes for part of the week. The children love the quietness of working in the chalet. We have had high levels of progress and we are hoping to do the same thing next year. What matters to us is providing the very best opportunities for the children.

Expansion blog post 1

It has been said on social media that we have already offered 60 places for September. Today, our PAN for September remains at 30. We know of children who are looking for a place in a local school for September but we are not able to offer this opportunity at Moor Hall at this moment in time.