TDD

Derby PFI

The brief:

PFI (Private Finance Initiative) is proving to be a very successful way to improve schools throughout the UK.
Private funding and management allows schools to be re-built or refurbished to meet the needs of modern
education.

Derby’s largest ever schools building project was their PFI project worth £38million to rebuild three
primary and two secondary schools. Combined expertise came from all the companies involved, engineering
consultants, construction and investment, together with suppliers who have fitted out the schools with
modern facilities and exciting new designs.

Contracted to build and manage the project, Norwest Holst delivered the PFI package. Norwest Holst has
specialist divisions and subsidiaries which enabled them to complete the full construction package from
inception, through ground investigation and remediation, to completion of the project and beyond to the
maintenance of the facilities. Taking a closer look at the secondary schools within the Derby PFI project,
Merrill College and Da Vinci Community College, have radically overhauled their facilities and extended
their curriculum offering.

The end result:

Merrill College has almost 1,000 students, and offers a complete educational program to students aged 11
through to sixth form level. The school already had a good reputation for dance, but with a dramatic
improvement in the performing arts arena, this can only further improve. The project invested in a
complete Sound & Light package, which included modular staging, an entire sound system, comprehensive
lighting and full length performance curtains which transform the main hall into an amazing theatrical
setting. The hall is used on a daily basis for numerous activities, drama events, assemblies, presentations,
parents’ events and teaching media and music. With lighting and sound a fixture in the hall, controlling the
equipment comes in the form of a wheeled console, which in operated by students and staff. The success of
the investment in performing arts facilities is illustrated through an historic Merrill performance, from
Shakespeare. Each one of Shakespeare’s 37 plays somehow featured in the event, through different
expressions of music, dance and drama. It was the first time Shakespeare had been performed at Merrill
College and a wonderful way to highlight the facilities as well as their talent. The attention to detail in all
aspects from the facilities through to the performance reflects the school’s ambition in this field together
with their related exam successes. Merrill College was also host to the Irish Dancing Championships for the
first time due to these new facilities, a successful debut, which is expected to be repeated.

Da Vinci Community College includes study for students up to age 16 and was the first education PFI project
for Derby and also benefited from a complete re-build and a new state of the art drama facility. As with
Merrill College, the complete Sound & Light package was designed by Ray Balcombe of Technical Drama
Design and installed by Stage Systems. From stage to sound and curtains to console, Stage Systems supplied a
bespoke Sound & Light package to transform the hall to a performance platform. The installation of the
equipment ensures multi-purpose use of the hall. With demountable staging, the hall can still be used to its
full size for certain uses such as exams, or utilised as a theatre setting with a single or multi-level stage,
making a completely versatile space. The Sound & Light equipment is a personal choice too. Options were
selected from alternatives of light including coloured light, spot and follow spots, and sound includes a
combination of amp, microphones and control console.

What they said:

For both schools PFI has meant that fantastic facilities are high on the agenda and include amazing
performance arenas, gyms, sports hall and outside sports areas that support the students as well as the
community proving the success of the project. In full support of PFI, Schools Minister Jim Knight believes
that Da Vinci Community College is proof that PFI works. Investment through PFI is transforming under
achieving schools and developing schools to perform even better. With private investors and suppliers like
Stage Systems supporting these projects with great facilities, they also help inspire new support and
motivation to schools, communities and students alike.