Education

In October 2009 Rydon was selected by Partnerships for Schools (PfS) as one of the contractors on their 2010-14 Academies Framework This is a firm acknowledgement of the strong credentials we have established in this sector and of our ability to deliver a wide range of schemes, including new build, extensions and refurbishment.

At Rydon we understand that education has changed and evolved exponentially over recent years and is unrecognisably changed from just one generation ago.

The Government's Every Child Matters: Change for Children, published in 2004, set out that education must be designed around teaching children and young people to be adaptable and flexible. This means that the school experience must also be adaptable and flexible and that schools should look to provide environments which encourage the individual student's willingness to learn, enquire and explore for themselves.

Rydon's approach is to establish a strong rapport with the stakeholder group. We do this across a number of sectors including education, health and housing. The important thing is to work closely together from the start so as to establish a winning set of ideas that everyone can understand and buy into.

Transforming these ideas into spaces and buildings is the outcome, and is what we, at Rydon, do best. We listen, we learn and we respond; challenging when necessary, to ensure the best possible result. When describing an activity we will be asking the right questions: what are the acoustic needs? What are the lighting and furniture requirements? What is the role of ICT in the activity and how might this evolve?

The Transformation agenda is delivering changes in teaching and learning for the students in the school as well as the opportunities to improve the skill base of members of the surrounding community. We would ask, therefore, how the local community is going to use the facilities and what are the access and security implications?

Once on site, we are conscious of the need to work sympathetically with the school, the neighbours and the environment. We are proponents of the Considerate Constructors' Scheme and have won several awards with them. Our environmental policy and systems are constantly being improved to keep pace with changing needs and demands. We engage with staff and students to deliver an understanding of how their new facilities have been designed and built, leaving a legacy of knowledge and resources. This encourages extensive stakeholder ownership from concept to beyond occupation.

We have delivered construction schemes in some of the most sensitive environments, including working schools and hospitals. This means that we understand the need for careful planning and scheduling of works to ensure that critical educational activities, such as examinations, can proceed without disruption and that pupils and staff can easily and safely go about their normal activities.