Improvement works at Longcroft

An East Riding secondary school is celebrating the completion of major improvement schemes totalling £2.3million.

The improvement works at Longcroft School in Beverley have not only made the buildings more pleasant places for staff and students to work, but have also made them more energy efficient, which will cut their energy bills.

The works have been funded from East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s capital maintenance budget, and Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Parnaby OBE, went along to inspect the completed works for himself.

The projects have been carried out by contractors Hall Construction Group Ltd, based in Hull.

Councillor Parnaby said: “I am delighted that these works have been completed, improving the environment for both students and staff.

“The improvements have not only made the school a much nicer place in which to teach and learn, but they have also brought it into the 21st century by increasing energy efficiency and reducing its carbon footprint.”

At Longcroft Upper School, which was built in the 1950s, a £2.3million scheme has been carried out to modernise the building, including re-roofing and replacing windows and external doors.

A major part of the scheme was carrying out repairs to the original concrete structure and architectural detailing.

The work, which has also included remodelling the main reception and external paving and access improvements, has boosted the thermal efficiency of the building and reduced carbon emissions.

Ian O’Donnell, headteacher at Longcroft School, said: “I am delighted by the work that has been done on the Upper School site. The new windows, roofing and repairs to the outer fabric of the school have made this 60-year-old building look new.

“The local authority, acting as client, and Hall, the contractor, have worked very well with the school to minimise the impact of the work on the day-to-day life of the school.

“Huge credit also goes to the staff and students who have just got on with the normal routines. It is amazing how such a relatively small budget, compared to Building Schools for the Future, can make such a remarkable difference.”

Martin Hall, managing director of Hall Construction, said: “From the start we formed a close relationship with the school and the local authority staff, which made working on the site much easier. Interestingly, we believe Hall Construction built the original school at Longcroft in 1950 and we hope that the work we have carried out recently will serve the school for another 60 years.”