One third of the students at Rushey Mead School had to have their lessons in 24 mobile classrooms at one time. But after years of campaigning, the school finally managed to raise enough funding for their dream of erecting a new building which was the ideal environment for teaching and learning.
Acting Head Teacher Alison Ford says: “We knew this was going to be a major project, it cost more than £4 million, so we thought we should make it environmentally-friendly as well. Our students were involved in designing the new building from day one. We have an active student council who played their part and it was an educational experience for all of us.”
The Green Academy, opened in 2001, has several outstanding environmental features. Photo-voltaic roof slates, which turn sunlight into electricity, are integrated into the building’s fabric. The 24 new classrooms are also ventilated naturally. Air flows up through three vertical ventilation turrets, avoiding the need to install air conditioning. And a rainwater harvesting system collects water from the roof which is used for toilet flushing.
Energy consumption has also been minimised. Under-floor heating makes the best use of the thermal capacity of the concrete floors. And the low-energy lights have intelligent controls, so they automatically switch on when someone stands underneath them and turn off after they leave.
The double-glazed windows are specially designed to allow a good level of natural lighting. And sun pipes have been installed to bring light into rooms with no external windows. Other energy-efficient measures include the building’s six gas condensing boilers and its highly insulated perimeter walls and roof.
Environmentally-friendly materials have been used wherever possible, including FSC specified timber, low-VOC paints and marmoleum floor covering, made from linseed oil. The completed building was named after the late Margaret Berridge, Rushey Mead’s Chair of Governors for 15 years, who spearheaded the project.
“We’re very proud of the new building,” says Miss Ford. “It offers the best quality of environment for teaching and learning, and we hope it will set a great example for all the other schools in the country.”
For further details call Alison Ford on 0116 266 3730 or email her at info@rusheymead-sec.leicester.sch.uk. Rushey Mead’s website is at www.rusheymead.ik.org
Outstanding environmental features:
Photo-voltaic system, passive stack ventilation system and a rainwater harvesting system
Other green features:
Designated recycling area, insulation, low-energy lighting, intelligent lighting controls, gas condensing boiler, double-glazing throughout, specific design for passive solar gain, flow restricted tap jets, push taps, urinal flushing controls, cycle parking, FSC timber specified, alternatives to PVC, natural floor coverings, low VOC paints, recycling materials in building fabric, grounds managed to protect habitat and wildlife breeding aids.