Top marks for Novus high school refurbishment

Novus Property Solutions has delivered a grade A refurbishment to the dining areas of Biddulph High School in Stoke-on-Trent.

Pupils and staff at the school are enjoying a brighter, more modern, safer environment for eating their lunch after Novus updated the decoration and lighting of the spaces, which are used by hundreds of children every day.

A team from Novus spent a total of eight weeks delivering the £160,000 upgrade, following a successful bid by the school to the Academy Condition Improvement Fund. The bid included the refurbishment of the school’s existing dining area, and the creation of a new outdoor dining area.  

A new suspended tile ceiling was installed in the school’s cafeteria, along with LED lighting in the ceiling, while a new non-slip vinyl floor was laid to create a safer environment for students and staff using the area. The space was given a full redecoration, including MDF lining on the walls, and Novus also upgraded the heating system and renewed the shutters in the dining room’s serving area.

The result of the refurbishment is a clean, modern, hygienic dining area that can accommodate more people than ever thanks to the addition of the new external seating.

Andy Woodhouse, regional operations manager at Novus Property Solutions, said: “We had to work within a tight timescale, as the work took place during the school’s summer holiday period. There was also some asbestos removal required, as well as an update to the heating system, which previously heated the dining area and sports hall to the same temperature.

“These challenges were overcome through effective planning and careful liaison with specialist contractors. A zonal heating system was installed along with the other refurbishments, and the school’s dining area is now a safer, brighter, more enjoyable space.”