Woodkirk Academy chooses Algeco temporary classrooms after RAAC discovered
The Challenge
In 2023, over 100 UK schools were forced to close before the beginning of the autumn term, due to the presence of unsafe Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in their buildings.
Woodkirk Academy in Leeds was one of the largest schools in the UK to be impacted, after RAAC was identified in several walls and floors within a sizeable teaching block.
This presented a complex challenge for the school:
- Accommodation of displaced students: Finding suitable temporary space for hundreds of students while a permanent solution for the affected building was developed.
- Maintaining educational continuity: Minimising disruption to classes and ensuring students received a high standard of education, despite the unexpected closure of a major building.
Our Solution
Algeco partnered with Woodkirk Academy to provide temporary accommodation as part of a wider solution, with a fast turnaround.
We supplied a number of fully-equipped, high-quality modular units to create spacious and comfortable classrooms. Our team worked with the school to tailor the layout and features of the units to meet the specific needs of Woodkirk Academy.
The whole project was completed in less than 6 weeks, from our initial site visit on December 7th to the school having fully functional units by January 16th.
Joe Barton, CEO Principal at Woodkirk Academy was delighted with the end result, and commented:
‘As a company you have been efficient, responsive, communicative and have delivered to spec and to the original timescale. The team involved (Vaughan Lingwood, Barrie Newman and Pete Raybould) were more than accommodating and pulled out all the stops to make sure our needs were met. From the initial site visit on 7 December, to having fully functional units by 16 January, we have been very impressed.
‘The units are now fully installed and we used them for the first time on Tuesday for exams; for a careers event on Wednesday; and now as classrooms. This solution, as you can see, is already making a significant difference to what we can deliver ensuring that the students at Woodkirk Academy receive the quality of education that we are known for.’
The temporary classrooms were immediately used for crucial exams, classes and events, demonstrating their impact on the school. The new units are now providing much-needed teaching space, accommodating displaced students and allowing the school to remain fully open.
If your school has been affected by RAAC, or you need to expand or reconfigure your school footprint, our flexible, high quality temporary modular classrooms could be the solution you need.