BAM Construction’s Exeter-based team has delivered phase two of the £19 million Ilfracombe Academy in Devon 16 weeks earlier than programmed.

1200 pupils and staff decanted in a single week at half term to occupy their new premises on 27 October; a process that often takes three weeks or longer.

BAM was appointed to design and build Ilfracombe Academy by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) as part of a batch of schools in Devon under its priority schools building programme.

Work commenced in February 2016, and phase one - a sports hall, sixth form centre and plant -  was handed-over to plan in March.

Project Manager Greg Browne saw an opportunity to accelerate phase two.

“I realised there was some scope to be leaner and overlap the trades more than we’d planned to do. I examined the zoning and re-programmed to capitalise on the extent of repetition we could create because so many of the 42 classrooms are the same.

“I also stepped up our sub-contractor management to complement this so that we didn’t have anybody lagging behind.

“We made very fast progress with the concrete frame erection because our pedestrian-operated crane was better able to cope with the windy conditions in our exposed location. We capitalised on the fast start.”

Mr Browne, who lives near Cullompton in Mid-Devon, singled out North Devon Removals for their professional attitude during the decant; High Admit Projects, Craftsman Flooring, FP Hurley and N Parkin for particular praise for their can do attitude in getting the internal works completed and finally GWorks and GWorks Surfacing for their efforts in completing the external works to the revised programme.

The scheme has seen a quarter of a million man hours worked so far, and 1,015 people have worked on it. Local firms have supplied ironworks, decorating, cleaning, roofing, cladding, fencing, external render, and landscaping among others.

The school’s head teacher Sharon Marshall has publicly said that, “We are absolutely delighted with this amazing building…it’s everything we asked for.”

BAM is now working on phases three and four which should be complete next summer.