Hans Price Academy

"PKL was the obvious choice for quality, service and value for money. They did it all, delivering the equipment and putting it in place."

Richard David, Project Manager at Willmott Dixon

Hans Price Academy

Weston-Super-Mare's Hans Price Academy opened in 2011 on the site of the original 1950s secondary school and is undergoing an ongoing £14m programme of development and refurbishment. The 750 pupils are continuing their studies as the building work takes place on site, creating interesting logistical and operational challenges.

These challenges came to a head recently when contractor Willmott Dixon needed to demolish the old kitchen and dining facilities to make way for new buildings, whilst ensuring pupils continued to receive seamless school meals service.

To plug the gap, Willmott Dixon partnered with PKL to provide temporary kitchens, whilst moving seating to a new dining area accommodating 150. The temporary school meals service is provided in various sittings to accommodate all pupils and will be removed once the new catering complex is completed.

Richard David, Willmott Dixon's project manager at Hans Price Academy, said, "We needed to create a temporary facility for continuity of service. PKL was the obvious choice for quality, service and value for money. They did it all, delivering the equipment and putting it in place. It was a complicated operation but everything went smoothly. The craning in of the temporary units was quite spectacular and caused some excitement amongst the pupils.

"This site presents particular challenges as it continues to be a working school environment and we have to work around the pupils, ensuring their safety, so we stop work at break times and during outdoor activities, for example."