College move delayed again

Read the list of official press releases on this site, then make a judgement on how effectively this project is being managed by the professionals. Beyond this they have consistently set unrealistic expectations.

Whilst I don't have the formal qualification to project manage or survey, I have 12 years of practical experience on build/refurbishment projects and good eyesight.

We all have the right to make public comments, subject to the safe guards of libel and deformation - I shall continue to comment where I feel it's justified

Can I just say that it's been impossible to hand over the school on time. Do people not remember the wet months we suffered in which building was impossible etc.
People need to give it a rest and let the professionals deal with it. Why should all details be made available, that'll be a complete waste of time and resources. If you wish to know the inner machinations of the project then get a qualification and be the project manager. Otherwise keep your mouth closed and leave it to those in the know to do it.

Absolutely, I have every sympathy for the students, parents and staff. They have all been let down badly and a more open/pragmatic approach from the LEA and Trust would undoubtedly have gone a long way to mitigate this. Instead we've seen an absurd veil of secrecy, questionable management and lack of leadership/ownership in this project, which has only increased this dislocation of expectations.

However all of this is all water under the bridge at this stage. Someone else can pick over the bones at some later date. The name of the game and absolute priority as I see it is salvage - to ensure the building is delivered fit for purpose and does not become a future liability. It could and should be a fantastic new school, one that students, parents and staff can take pride in.

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The issue to do with to delay being down to bad weather is also a convenient smoke screen which i'm sure will come to light once the site is handed over, also the snagging and remedial works you have suggested are true and involve leaking roofs and other major issues which need to be addressed which is why pupils cannot move in yet, surely such major defects as a result in rushing the build and cutting corners should be heavily penalised by the council who seem to have lost all control and creditably while managing this project and allow the contractor to dictate the outcome. If that is not the case why do they not make public knowledge just what the financial penalties on the contractor are. This is just the reason why when students are put last results suffer

While I agree with the comments below regarding the safety aspect, there is still the issue of the agreed handover date and its affect on the pupils at the school as a result of this further delay, many of the teachers have packed up equipment in anticipation of the original moving date and now this will either have to be unpacked again or stay packed and pupils not use it until the move happens (whenever that is) this will not only affect teachers and pupils morale but also puts risk pupils coursework due to the lack of resources currently available to them particularly 'A' level students who need these resources. This to me is totally shambolic given that the contractors, the school governors or council must of been aware that the revised date given was not achievable weeks ago hence rather than wait until the last minute to announce it. Surely it would of been better to get all parties to agree a sensible timetable back in September when the 1st delay was announce.

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Putting the financial risks aside, this is still a building site with major works still being conducted on the roof, glazing and balconies. And the likelihood of substantial snagging/remedial works throughout the main building. There would undoubtedly be disruption, restriction and major health and safety, security and child protection implications until these works are completed.
The LEA and Trust now have the opportunity to set a realistic timescale, ensure this project is built to specification and without substantial defect. It may be late, but we can still get the first class school we are ultimately all paying for – we (the pupils, parents, staff and local tax/rate payers) deserve no less.

Finally some common sense – after months of denial and suspended reality, it appears that Cowes Pathfinder Trust have finally stood up and rejected pressure to move in to the new school before it is properly completed and commissioned.
Whilst this will inevitably be disappointing for pupils, parents and staff, I have no doubt that they have made the correct decision for all parties (including us tax and rate payers) in the longer term.
Had they been forced to sign off on an incomplete building with only partial commissioning of essential services, the future financial risk could have been severe. In the event that the main contractor enters receivership it seems highly likely that we would pick up the tab.
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Any views or opinions presented in the comments above are solely those of the author and do not represent those of the Isle of Wight County Press.