Looking after an elderly building

ALISON HARDWICK (KJS staff )

We all remember the ancient parts of our School with fondness – but do we realise how much they cost to maintain? KJS Business Manager Alison Hardwick has the task of balancing the books.

EACH year, as an academy, we can submit two bids for Condition Improvement Funding (CIF) to the Department of Education. The success or failure of these bids is determined through a points-based system; the points are assigned according to several priority factors including the amount of capital a school is prepared to contribute itself. A consultancy firm is used to help with the bid writing, tender process and project management of the works.

To increase our chance of success, the KJS governors agreed to contribute the maximum amount of 31% towards the cost, to obtain 6 points towards the scoring system. As a result, for 2022/23, we were somewhat surprised – but delighted – to learn that both of our bids had been successful.

However, this did cause us some consternation as the capital works would cause some disruption to the smooth running of the School! This meant that they would require careful management. They would also require significant capital funding from the School.

The two bids were:

1. Fabric Repair/Window replacement works

Total cost £160,000 with grant funding of £104,000; cost to School £56,000 .

I’ve been the Business Manager at King James’s School since January 2004. Prior to taking up the role I spent eight years at Lindley Junior School as Senior Administrator.

My role involves managing the School budget. Project management also falls under my remit which includes helping to write and submit the annual bids to the Department of Education for capital expenditure. I’m also responsible for health and safety, reporting to the governors’ Audit & Risk Committee.

Since joining King James’s, I have helped to manage the conversion to academy status in 2012; Health & Safety during the pandemic; working across a split site and the construction of the new 10-classroom block.

I have two grown up sons, three lovely grandchildren and one cat. My hobbies include hiking, dancing and travel.

2 . Heating Replacement works

Total cost £275,000 with grant funding of £190,000; cost to School £85,000.

The School’s contribution, amounting to £141,000 in total, meant that our reserves would reduce significantly. However, it was deemed to be a good investment as the original old house section of the School would be preserved for many years to come. In addition, with new energy efficient heating our energy bills should see a reduction in future running costs.

The heating works commenced in June 2022 and were completed in December. All pipework and radiators in the old house were replaced, all the way down to the science labs. Pipework was run at high level along the main corridor which meant that asbestos underneath could be totally encapsulated. Two problems solved in one!

Due to the specialist nature of the windows, which had to be custom made, this project was delayed until January 2023 and completed at Easter. Windows were replaced in the staffroom, room 20, ladies staff toilet, room 7, Taylor Dyson office and the ILC and all restored to the original design, to meet with the listed building status. The large window in the ILC was fully replaced too, carefully retaining the stained-glass panel for posterity.

We have submitted further bids for 2023/24, one for further window replacements and the second for a replacement fire alarm system for the whole school. We wait with bated breath for the results which are due in early May.

Premises ManagerTONY HYLAND worked closely with Alison on the successful bid. He adds: Many of the windows in the older part of the School were in very poor shape, and some bodged repairs had been carried out in the 1970s when the future of the School was uncertain. The large window in the ILC (Library) was actually bowing and in serious danger of collapse.

Urgent work on the heating system was required because much of the pipework was concealed under the ground and encapsulated in asbestos. The work to replace it with a new high level system all had to be undertaken outside school hours, which was a huge challenge.

The next major project will be the replacement of the School’s fire alarm system, which is far below current-day requirements. It will be another massive project which will require careful management to avoid disruption to School activities.

lTony Hyland was born in Dublin. He joined King James’s School from Almondbury High School and became Premises Manager following Keith Ramsden’s retirement last year. For two years he was a professional golfer and for 12 years he was an officer in the Irish Garda police force.

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