The Taunton Academy project comprised a complex mix of new build, remodelling and refurbishment resulting in the redevelopment of an existing secondary school site into a modern, fresh and technologically advanced new Academy site for up to 1,150 students (including sixth form provision).

Futures for Somerset and our project supply chain delivered against challenging national Education Funding Agency (EFA) rates, timescales and requirements to provide an attractive, functional design solution that enabled the co-location of two secondary schools onto a single campus, whilst achieving excellent value for money for the client (based on revised National Academy Framework rates of £1,500 / m2).

Futures for Somerset provided Project Manager and Principal Contractor services into this project, working with BAM Construction as our sub-contractor to deliver a full Design and Build construction service. Futures for Somerset also acted as Project managers to the Academy’s IT procurement, assisting the Academy in the delivery of an all new school wide solution in readiness for opening. Futures for Somerset also managed the development of Education and IT Vision and Strategy documents and the funding approval process.

The campus was redeveloped to an extremely tight budget which sustained a 40% reduction in 2010 following a change in Government. The project cost was £10 million with a further £1 million invested in the new IT solution. The project involved a complex array of stakeholders and management of challenging site constraints. The entire construction works were phased to enable completion on a live education campus, alongside an existing secondary school.