School to Open on Time - by the Purchase of a Temporary Building

3.12.26pm GMT Wed 24th Nov 2004

The well-publicised world steel shortage is causing significant problems for the UK construction industry, resulting in many schemes being delayed. So far the impact on Milton Keynes Council's new school build programme has been minimal.

However, it has recently become apparent that the largest project in the programme, Oakgrove Secondary School, may be delayed by several weeks. This will mean that many of the school's permanent facilities will not be available for use until mid-October 2005.

Milton Keynes Council has, therefore, been exploring a number of contingency options in order to secure the provision of high-quality temporary facilities so that the school can open as planned in September 2005. One option is the purchase of a custom-built mobile school building which has a full range of facilities for up to 300 students, and would provide an ideal temporary facility for Oakgrove.

The building, which is less than three years old, is being offered for sale by another local education authority. Milton Keynes Council is considering buying this building and locating it on the Oakgrove school site. It will provide contingency cover for all phases of the school's development and, if necessary, the wider new school build programme in the city. There is also potential for the facilities to be used by community groups and perhaps be relocated to another site in the city in the future.

Councillor Euan Henderson, Cabinet Member whose responsibilities include new school build, said: "This would of course be a temporary solution, but one that we are seriously considering. Since the Liberal Democrats took over the Council, our school building programme in Milton Keynes has been booming, and this move could prove an important stop gap to allow us to keep up the momentum."

The outcome of any bid for the building should be known in early December. In the meantime, education staff will work closely with the head teacher and governors of Oakgrove to look at other possible contingency plans.

The new school, in Middleton, is part of the Oakgrove Millennium Community and will eventually accommodate 1,500 students.