Technical Adviser

We have been working alongside the DfE as a Technical Adviser since 2019

By helping primary, secondary, SEND, and further education projects in this capacity, we have developed an unparalleled understanding of how to produce a school or college specific brief and its supporting documentation. With direct access to the latest DfE guidance and training, we add significant value to the production of pre-tender feasibility studies, and to the contractor teams bidding under the MMC1 and CF21 frameworks.

Our involvement includes the production of the feasibility study. We work together with the DfE and Academy Trust to develop an equivalent RIBA Stage 2 design compliant with the latest output specification. Our technical team are retained to support the DfE in the post award client engagement meetings and the review of contractor’s proposals.

WOLDGATE SECONDARY SCHOOL & SIXTH FORM

The replacement building is positioned in the heart of the existing school, needing a sensitive and considered design solution, and detailed phasing and site logistic strategy.

The site has significant constraints; however, working closely with the school, DfE, and Turner and Townsend’s wider TA team, we completed the feasibility study and provided a developed control option that met the school-specific brief. Throughout the client engagement and technical review process, we have been able to provide expert support to the school to ensure that the final contractor’s design both complies with the DfE technical annexes and also stays true to the school-specific brief. The 1,450-place school is currently on site, due to be opened in 2025.

NORTH LYNDSEY COLLEGE

We worked closely with the College team, DfE, and Turner and Townsend as TA. The project involved the master planning of the existing campus, working around retained buildings, and ensuring that the new main entrance building could be completed in a live working environment.

We were involved in the project throughout the feasibility stage, supporting the client engagement process and reviewing the contractor’s proposals against the DfE suite of technical annexes and generic design brief. The new 8,000 sqm teaching and learning building will be opened in 2025.

SELBY SEN SCHOOL

The new 100-place 2,650 sqm SEN facility for Springwell Academy Trust has recently achieved planning permission and is currently waiting final technical sign-off.

The Trust’s bespoke approach to the SEN curriculum tested the DfE standard approach design, producing a unique through-school tailor-made to the needs and requirements of the student community. Several options were explored to ensure the correct developed control option, aligned with the school-specific brief.

We worked closely with the main contractor’s team to ensure the detailed requirements of the feasibility study were incorporated into the final design solution.

THE WOODLANDS SEND ACADEMY

The design of the new 136 place special educational needs school sits within a very restricted site, which needs to remain live and operational throughout the build. A comprehensive consultation process ensured that the Technical Advisor team, led by Turner and Townsend, produced a detailed school-specific brief, tailored to the needs and requirements of the school.

We completed the feasibility study and supporting documentation and worked closely with the contractor to make sure that their proposals were compliant with DfE technical standards, with minimum derogations.

TRINITY ACADEMY ST EDWARD’S

The new school building off Keresforth Close in Barnsley is our second school for the Trinity Academy MAT.

Working with the Trust, DfE, and Turner and Townsend as TA we completed the feasibility study and supported the project through to the appointment of the contractor and technical review of the contractor’s proposals.