Temporary teaching facilities at Francis Barber
Requirement
Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit (PRU), part of the Inclusion Service, supports secondary-aged pupils facing challenges in accessing education. These challenges include exclusion, difficulties in attending school or emotional based school non-attendance. The school’s mission is to reintegrate students into learning within a caring, trauma-informed and supportive environment, helping them fulfil their potential.
As the school awaits the completion of a new, permanent brick-built facility, there was an urgent need for high-quality temporary teaching accommodation that could meet the needs of both staff and pupils.
To deliver this, Baxall Construction was appointed to manage the overall project and engaged Wernick Refurbished Buildings to provide a modular solution on a 75-week hire basis. From the outset, Wernick worked closely with both Baxall and Francis Barber PRU to ensure that the temporary facility would be fully aligned with the school’s educational and pastoral requirements.
Wernick supported the project through all stages of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Plan of Work, from concept design to handover. Their ability to meet each milestone with efficiency and attention to detail was key in providing a solution that supported the PRU’s important mission.
- Client name: Baxall Construction
- Project name: Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit
- Sector: Education
- Location: London
- No. of modules: 36 bay
- Hire duration: 75 weeks
- Accommodation type: Double-storey classroom facility
Solution
Wernick Refurbished Buildings supplied a 36-bay, two-storey modular facility built using PMflex modules with a Kingspan roof system. Refurbished at Wernick’s dedicated factory in York, the building meets the latest building regulations and Department for Education (DfE) specifications.
Designed with flexibility and functionality in mind, the temporary school includes, multiple classrooms, science laboratories, offices, meeting rooms, toilet facilities, a canteen and a breakout area.
Security and safeguarding were also a priority. The building was fitted with CCTV, access control and a monitored intruder alarm system to ensure a safe and secure environment for both students and staff.
By providing a temporary facility that functions like a permanent school, Wernick helped the Francis Barber PRU continue delivering essential support to its pupils during a critical transition period.
The new school building has been transformative for our pupils and our staff. Being in a space that allows pupil movement to be spacious and safe and staff to feel comfortable with adequate warmth and cooling has had a positive effective on our pupils and the wellbeing of our staff. On arrival, one pupil said ‘this feels like a proper school!’
