St Michael's RC Secondary School

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About St Michael's

St Michael's is one of our two sample schemes, the other being Tuke School; it will have a private finance initiative (PFI) contract.

Voluntary aided mixed 11 to 16 Roman Catholic comprehensive
Built in 1959 for 450 pupils
Strong sense of purpose, 'to educate their pupils, whilst having concern for their spiritual, intellectual, social and cultural development in a Christian context'
Results significantly higher than national/local averages
Pupils reach higher than expected attainment compared to their records prior to St Michaels
Business and enterprise college working within good business ethics
Aims to prepare pupils to meet future economic challenges
Aims to promote enterprise through education in it’s community and with partner schools
Lead teacher and support staff training; disseminates good teaching practice
A full service extended school to provide for the welfare of the local community
Fully committed to Every Child Matters
Will be replaced with buildings for 600 pupils

Transforming St Michael's

Renewed learning environments within a single building
A professional environment that reflects the business and enterprise specialism
Better circulation/supervision of pupil movement, dual use space for social and break out learning
Universal access to ICT across the school
Improved provision for sport, languages and the arts.
Increased emphasis on personalised virtual and physical learning
Enhance extended provision with changes to the statutory school day and new facilities
Accelerated curriculum, with some post 16 courses in key stage four and vocational diplomas post 14

Existing site and buildings

Total site area is approximately 12,570m2
In Rotherhithe close to the Thames
Eight storey Chambers Wharf building at west end
Residential buildings on the other three sides
Set back within its site, main access from John Felton Road for pedestrians and vehicles, parking and a delivery area are provided on site, via John Felton Road

Most school buildings are late 1950's, but some minor buildings are older

Four storey teaching block for most general teaching, DT and science labs, built in 1959
One to three storey dining/assembly hall with general teaching and LRC in upper storeys, built in 1959
Temporary building unit for RE and SEN, installed 2003
Larger separate single storey building for IT, music and some RE, built in the mid 1990's
Gym attached to the main body of the building, built in 1959
School keeper's house accessed off East Lane and an external Multi Use Games Area (MUGA)

Survey conclusions

Acoustic Report Noise levels would be above BB93 if windows open for normal ventilation

Visual Structural Survey No major structural issues with the current school buildings

Flood risk assessment School is in Flood Risk Zone 1, full flood risk assessment underway

Ecological Study No protected species were found on the site or surrounding area

Archaeology Survey There are no archaeological sites within the school site boundary

Travel Plan Assessment School has good public transport, new design will improve access and encourage the school community to use environmentally friendly travel

Geo Environmental Survey The overall geo environmental liability associated with the site and the risks linked to land contamination are low to moderate across the site

Utility Search The searches picked up no major issues

Reference design

Re built as a school for 600 pupils on existing site
Central covered atrium over three storeys for all the main school facilities
New main building is a horseshoe with the open end facing north; a bridge at first and second floor levels connecting the two wings of the horseshoe; two open accommodation stairs off these bridges
Large double height volume spaces of the main hall and dining area in the southern section of the horseshoe; will have double height sliding folding partitions to open up to the central covered space
Teaching and other accommodation is arranged on one side of the corridor only
Lightweight translucent roof over horseshoe area above the level of adjacent buildings for natural ventilation
Separate sports hall to the north and a four court sports hall with changing and storage space
Visitor entrance is at the corner of John Felton Rd so pedestrian entrance is a straight continuation of the road; vehicular entrance retained in existing location half way along John Felton Rd
Pupils enter through the main pedestrian entrance at the end of John Felton Rd and filter into the playground to access the teaching accommodation via the areas between the activity space and the teaching wings

Reference scheme construction

Existing buildings will be kept during construction on the playground. When completed, the school will move into the new teaching building. The old buildings, except for the gym and changing rooms, will be demolished to allow construction of a new sports hall and changing rooms, followed by final landscaping.

Planning guidance

We have outline planning permission, subject to a full flood risk assessment.
The key planning issues are

Better integrating the school into the local context
Consideration of arrival area and positioning of servicing and parking in surrounding streetscape
Further consideration of the exposed and thus relatively unusable outer open surrounds
Potential for a more prominent presence within the community with an improved entrance
Consideration of the location of the proposed sports hall, given the mature trees nearby which should be protected and retained
Further consideration to sports hall siting and its relationship to the adjacent flatted development; 'pinch point' between the front corner of the sports hall and adjacent ground floor unit adjacent, with possible daylight, sunlight and privacy issues

We will provide a link to the full design report for St Michael's shortly.

You may also be interested in the information held on the St Michael's school website.

Contact us

The Southwark schools for the future team
Tel: 020 7525 5224
ssf@southwark.gov.uk
L3 Coburg House
63 - 67 Newington Causeway
London
SE1 6BD

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