As part of a portfolio-wide drive to improve their school estates, Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) appointed TFT to project manage the rationalisation and redevelopment of Sutton High School.

The site comprised a wide variety and type of buildings, from single multiple storey blocks to converted houses. TFT was appointed to support an initial masterplan of the site and produce a report for the GDST board. We were supported by a wider team, consisting of an architect, a mechanical, electrical & public health consultant, a structural engineer and a cost consultant.

The masterplan process to rationalise the Sutton High School estate commenced with a detailed briefing meeting with the client and key stakeholders including GDST, the headteachers of both the senior and junior schools and the director of finance and operations.

Once the brief was agreed, the team collated the required information to support the masterplan process. This included undertaking surveys, reviewing existing information and understanding the condition of the existing building stock. This information, alongside the brief, helped to determine the location of areas to develop, to refurbish and to demolish.

Through regular stakeholder meetings, the masterplan was developed to incorporate services infrastructure and included the potential for an energy centre. The assessment on services determined that the site would require an increase in power to support any further development of the site.

Following an assessment of potential risks, the final masterplan was then costed and the proposed works programmed was presented to the key stakeholders for approval. As project manager, TFT led the masterplan process, managing the supporting team to ensure that key programme dates, objectives and deliverables of the brief were met by the team throughout the development of the final masterplan report. The project took place over 10 months between 2016-2017.