Progress and construction plan

Following extensive consultation with the local community, school staff and pupils, plans for the rebuilding of the flagship Cressex Community School, in High Wycombe, have now been submitted to the planners for approval.

The building has been designed to serve as both an educational facility and a focal point for community activities outside normal school hours. It was therefore important to gauge the views of the local community, as well as staff and pupils at the school.

The second round of the pre-planning consultation exercises was designed to enable all residents to participate in the consultation, with a consultation event held in September at the Cressex Community School and information also sent to 3,000 local residents. The feedback from the pre-planning consultation has been reflected in an amended design:

• The main approaches to the school have been remodelled to increase the visibility of the Cressex Road entrance for students and visitors
• Increased parking has been provided to assist parents when dropping off children at the nursery and the staff parking has also been relocated
• The external amphitheatre has been remodelled with a new seating plan
• The practical block, performing arts, sports storage and support learning resource locations have been reviewed to give a more efficient building footprint.

The construction programme has been prepared by BAM Construction, working closely with Buckinghamshire County Council, the architects and school users. The rebuild commenced in December 2008, with the School Building being ready for occupation by September 2010.