Thames Park is one of the first schools to be delivered via the Department for Education’s Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) Framework.
MMC-led school projects are more efficient and cost-effective than standard design and built schools because much of the construction is done off-site in a factory. Our subsidiary company Innovare Systems is one of our valued partners on our education projects. Their factory-based construction offers greater standardisation and better quality control, less waste and improved energy efficiency. Once onsite labour costs and energy usage are reduced and the build time is much faster; for example, the external shell of Thames Park School was assembled on site in approximately 10 weeks.
Thames Park School is a £24 million secondary free school for 900 pupils aged 11-16, with future potential for a sixth form.
The school was built using structural insulated panels, roof cassettes and pre-cast concrete floors. Together with Innovare Systems, we have developed this process further by installing windows, roofing, and external cladding off-site. Another of our group companies, mechanical and electrical specialist, dbs, was involved with the development of an off-site plant room.
The off-site method of construction reduces time spent on site, is better for the environment and further improves health and safety.
B+K has been delivering schools for the DfE using offsite technology since 2014. Thames Park embraces the considerable research and development we have made over that time, to refine our product and increase its Pre-Manufactured Value. This is culminating in the delivery of our very mature ‘Configure Offsite 3.0’ standardised, yet flexible, school solution, which will exceed the very stringent performance requirements of the DfE’s Output Specification whilst reducing the construction duration by 30%.
Thames Park has two buildings, – a three-storey teaching block and a separate sports block. These are complemented by two multi use game areas, an all-weather pitch, turfed sports pitches and a running track.
Bowmer + Kirkland has been a major contractor for the Department for Education since the launch of the Contractor Framework in 2013 and was named DfE Contractor of the Year for the High Value Band of Works on the school building programme.
