Multi-phase M&E upgrade at Sandy Secondary School

SJD was asked by Ashe Construction to upgrade the electrical services at Sandy Secondary School in Bedfordshire as part of a wider project to accommodate more children at the school.

Central Bedfordshire Council’s New School Places programme aims to increase the number of school places in areas where the children live, and following construction of a new teaching block, the existing facilities are being refurbished.

SJD was initially asked to work on the fast-track full rewire of the existing dining hall and seating areas in the summer holidays of 2024 within a tight deadline for work to be complete for the start of term.

A team of four engineers installed new distribution, CCTV, security access control and data cabling along with LED lighting with day light dimming to improve the school’s efficiency. Overall, around 85 LED panels were installed.

SJD was then asked to work on three more phases of the school’s development with the team mobilising quickly to start work on the upgrade of boys’ and girls’ ground floor changing rooms.  This phase included improving lighting and power and providing the power for new mechanical ventilation systems. Daylight sensors and movement detector installations were installed for efficiency.

The scope of the project then grew to encompass upgrading two science rooms with the installation of containment and power for the teachers’ and students’ science benches, and the interface with the science gases system.

A further phase saw SJD renew the lighting and power in corridors throughout the school. This work took place during the school holidays and term time whilst the students were present therefore great care was taken to keep disruption to a minimum and maintain a strict safety regime at all times.

SJD was then asked to respond quickly to deliver phase six of the school’s development which is currently under way and includes upgrading general and emergency lighting for the school’s main hall and drama theatre.  Much of the work is taking place at high levels with access to working areas via towers. External work is also taking place to provide power for mechanical ventilation systems with access via scaffolding.

Running concurrently with this is phase eight which includes provision of mechanical power for ventilation systems and sensor lighting for the first floor changing rooms.

SJD’s work throughout the existing school has replaced old installations to provide PIR, emergency and daylight dimming lighting all helping the school to minimise energy consumption.

Find out more about our education projects here