Children will soon be returning to their classrooms after the long summer holidays and behind the scenes work has been continuing to improve Reading’s school buildings.
Reading is fortunate to have several lovely old Victorian school buildings but that does create some challenges for the Council which is responsible for their upkeep.
As many homeowners know, the list of jobs to do around the house can seem endless and there is always more to do.
Similarly, the Council has an ongoing programme of works to upgrade some of the town’s older school buildings which are showing signs of deterioration.
Work is currently under way on a full replacement of the roof on the junior building at Alfred Sutton Primary School in east Reading. Builders have been onsite throughout the school holidays, but the project has been ongoing since March with the school remaining open and operational during term times.
What has been great is that the construction company and the Council’s Education Property Development Team have worked closely with the school to engage the pupils in the project.
Not only have they been able to ensure that children can continue their classes and move around the school safely during the works, they have actively involved them in parts of the scheme.
Members of the project team have delivered assemblies to all pupils about the project and explained what happens on a building site and how to stay safe.
Just before the summer holidays, every child and teacher were invited to take part in a time-capsule roof activity, which involved decorating and signing the back of their own roof tile to be placed alongside the other 65,000 tiles expected to be used.
It was a fabulous way of current pupils becoming an integral part of the school’s 123-year history.
It is important that the character of an old school building is also protected. Alfred Sutton primary is a local non-designated heritage asset and the original ridge tiles, which are unique to the local area, are being retained. Those tiles which are in good condition will be re-used in smaller re-roofing projects, while those in poor condition will be recycled as hardcore for roads.
Roof insulation and the replacement of the building’s windows and doors will also reduce heat loss and save the school money on its energy bills.
Other schools that have been part of the improvement programme, which is funded by the Government, include Oxford Road Community School, Park Lane Primary School and Caversham Primary School.
The team will be back at Park Lane to replace windows this year and work will also start on replacing the pitched roofs on three buildings at Wilson Primary.
So, as school classrooms fill up with children in a few days’ time, be assured that the Council is working hard to keep the buildings in the best possible condition.
By Cllr Liz Terry, leader of Reading Borough Council
