Farrans completes new school for Rotherhithe Primary

Farrans Construction has completed and handed over a new school for Rotherhithe Primary in London on behalf of client Southwark Council.

The construction project included a 3,600m2 school building replacement for Rotherhithe Primary School. It now accommodates up to 630 pupils as well as a 60-place integrated nursery. The school was constructed on the existing playgrounds of the active Rotherhithe Primary School.

The scheme is imagined as ‘a school in a garden’, conceptually extending and capturing the green space and openness of Southwark Park into the school site, creating a stimulating and protected outdoor environment for the children.

As part of ongoing community engagement designed to leave a positive lasting impact in the area, Farrans held a bespoke Early Explorers Enterprise Week for 360 pupils of Rotherhithe Primary School which was designed to spark an interest in STEM subjects and the wider construction industry. Throughout the build Farrans led 7 careers workshops for students in the area and sourced 16% of contracts through local suppliers.

Glenn Gilmore, regional director at Farrans Construction, said: “Rotherhithe Primary School now has a fully fit for purpose and modern teaching environment for its students to enjoy. It has been a pleasure working with our clients throughout this build process, during which we have had a number of challenges to work through collaboratively, including Covid-19, skills and materials shortages and inflation. Our portfolio of work in the education sector, including Barnfield College, King’s College, Big Creative Academy and Ruislip High School positioned us well to mitigate against these risks maximising our excellent relationships with our supply chain.

“Our social value delivery throughout this project has had a positive lasting impact on many of the students from the school and we hope to have inspired some of them to join a career in the construction industry when they are older.”