George Salter Secondary Academy, West Bromwich

Founded in 1932, the George Salter Secondary Academy is a coeducational secondary school in West Bromwich in the West Midlands of the United Kingdom. With 1362 pupils aged 11-16, the school is part of the Ormiston Academies Trust. Affectionately named “George’s” by pupils and the local community, the school maintains core values of ambition, belief and courage. 

Anticipating an increase in the student roll by 250 pupils, George Salter Academy recognised the need for additional dining capacity to help supplement the existing canteen space which was often congested leading to students eating outside. The use of the main hall for dining created problems during exam time and restricted its use by teachers leading to the school looking for a cost-effective solution to add a fully enclosed dining space.

Streetspace was engaged to deliver a turnkey package which included the design, manufacture and build for a dining hall extension, with planning and building control also provided. The project required extensive groundworks to be completed, including levelling, and the installation of DDA-compliant ramps, steps and handrails to assist with access.

A ZONE Glazed Building Structure was recommended as it would provide the space needed at a more cost-effective value when compared to a traditional build. The glazed dining hall was designed to fit the adjoining building footprint, complementing its roof lines and providing 205m2 of effective enclosed space. An insulated steel roof provides consistently high levels of insulation, ensuring that pupils are kept warm and dry during periods of inclement weather. The building’s extensive glazing in turn provides a contemporary light-filled dining space while offering effective thermal insulation making the structure suitable for year-round use.

Installation was completed during the school summer holidays in order to avoid disruption to school operations and ensure it was ready for the pupil’s return at the start of the new school. The canteen and dining extension provides the George Salter Secondary Academy with additional space for approximately 160 seated students at any one time, fulfilling the requirements the school had for this project in the early conception stage. 

This project is the first of three ZONE projects Streetspace have undertaken for the Ormiston Academies Trust. Installation is now complete on a building extension to provide enclosed dining and social space for the Ormiston Chadwick Academy in Widnes, Chesire, with a further project scheduled later this year for the Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy, located in Tividale in the West Midlands.