Living and breathing modular

How it feels for the users

Living the experience

In September of 2021, the students and teachers of Sweyne Park School moved in to their new building, after seeing the first works begin only four months earlier.

Simon Smith, Learning Environment Leader at the school, describes the new facility in comparison to his own experiences.

Over the years we’ve had various expansions, some of which was traditional modular. But comparing the two is like chalk and cheese. As a teaching environment, the rooms that have been created are second to none – the quality of the acoustics is as good as you’ll find, the lighting is fantastic and the fittings are such high quality.

Simon Smith, Sweyne Park School

"Having this level of quality gives the teacher the very best environment to deliver their craft. If you can provide them with an environment that’s supports them doing their very best, then you can influence the quality of the teaching and learning. It’s worked extremely well here and we wouldn’t, by any other method, have got anything better.”Essex County Council feels so confident in the schemes that Andrew shared their approach to engaging with any challenges that have been put against modular construction.“We know there is a clear difference between the product from the past, and the best way to bring people aboard is to get them here to see and feel it for themselves. In fact, that is an open invite to anyone, to come and see what is essentially, a steel frame and concrete floor, offsite factory solution, which is what makes it so robust.”

The Construction Playbook certainly provides guidance that will transform public infrastructure works, but the Clacton, Colne and Sweyne scheme will certainly provide a blueprint for Essex, and other local authorities, for how to build back better, faster and greener.

Having this level of quality gives the teacher the very best environment to deliver their craft. If you can provide them with an environment that’s supports them doing their very best, then you can influence the quality of the teaching and learning. It’s worked extremely well here and we wouldn’t, by any other method, have got anything better.