£5m contract awarded for Horsham school expansion project

The project will see Tanbridge House School, in Farthings Hill, expand from eight to 10 forms, which will be able to accommodate up to 1,500 pupils aged 11 to 16.

Work started in April and is due to be completed by the time term begins in September 2016.

It will include the construction of a new two-storey science block with new labs and classrooms, a new, single-storey extension to the existing drama hall and a two-storey teaching block that will support learning in areas including Computing, English and Media Studies.

Beard will also extend the main hall and carry out additional refurbishments and alterations to other existing school buildings.

The development and expansion of the school’s facilities will accommodate an additional 300 students.

The new expansion will further improve the school’s specialism provision of science, Maths, ICT and extend further into Adult Education for the benefit of the community.

“We are delighted to be working with West Sussex County Council (WSCC) and Tanbridge House School to deliver this exciting new development,” says Beard’s contracts manager Gareth Philips.

“WSCC are strong advocates of collaborative working and early contractor involvement to maximise value for money.

“Beard and our design team have developed the project from concept, through planning, detailed design and will continue through to construction which will involve working very closely with WSCC and the school to provide them with much needed new facilities for their expansion.

“The new teaching block will be located at the front of the existing school site, and we will incorporate a number of techniques and sequences to minimise the impact of construction activity on the school and local neighbourhood. The safety of pupils and staff, and the preservation of the environment of academic excellence is our priority.”

Beard is managing the pre-construction design development and planning application submission for the expansion project which was submitted in January.

Jules White, headteacher at Tanbridge House School, commented: “We are extremely excited about securing new investment into Tanbridge House School.

“In conjunction with Beard and West Sussex County Council everyone in our school community is keen to see the development of infrastructure which will enhance our excellent current provision.”

West Sussex County Council’s capital projects manager Geoff Tee says: “The school, the contractors and the county council have pulled together to plan this project so it minimises disruption to the school. We are pleased all working arrangements are now in place.”

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.wscountytimes.co.uk

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/wscountytimes

3) Follow us on Twitter @wscountytimes

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The County Times - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.