Delivering Fast-Track School Refurbishments Over Easter Holidays
26 classrooms, plus multiple corridors and a dining area, in just two weeks
Project Overview
Project: Easter holiday school refurbishment
Location: West Midlands
Sector: Education
Properties: Two schools
Programme: 2-week holiday shutdown
Client Profile
School holiday periods provide a valuable opportunity to carry out refurbishment work without disrupting teaching. With pupils off-site, improvements can be completed safely and efficiently, ensuring schools are ready for the new term.
Working across two separate sites, IL Solutions delivered a fast-paced programme of internal redecoration across two schools. With fixed reopening dates and changing project requirements, careful planning and flexible resourcing were essential to keeping both programmes on track.
The Challenge
With just two weeks available before pupils and staff returned for the summer term, every day counted.
The original programme for one school included redecorating 26 classrooms and several corridors. As work progressed, the scope changed, with some classrooms removed from the programme while additional corridors and a dining hall were added instead. Throughout the project, the completion date remained fixed.
Furniture and teaching resources had to be carefully moved and protected in every classroom, and planned working hours on one site were also significantly reduced due to access challenges.
At the same time, IL Solutions was delivering refurbishment works at a second school nearby, requiring careful coordination of labour and resources across both projects.
Services Delivered
- Internal painting and decorating
- Classroom redecoration
- Corridor and stairwell decoration
- Dining hall decoration
- Feature walls
- Furniture moving and protection
- Project management
What We Did
Adapting as the programme evolved, IL Solutions increased resources and carefully re-sequenced work to maintain progress across both schools.
Before decorating could begin, furniture and teaching resources were carefully moved and protected to provide safe access throughout each classroom. The programme included full redecoration of classrooms, corridors, stairwells and communal areas, including feature walls, ceilings, doors, frames and architraves.
Despite reduced working hours and additional work being introduced during the programme, the team maintained close communication with the client and adjusted resources where required to ensure the refurbishment remained on schedule.
The Result
Both refurbishment programmes were completed on time, allowing pupils, teachers and support staff to return to bright, welcoming learning environments for the start of the summer term.
By combining careful planning with a flexible approach to changing project requirements, IL Solutions delivered the programme within the available holiday window while maintaining the high standards expected across both schools.
The successful delivery of these projects demonstrates how careful planning, flexible resourcing and clear communication enable schools to make the most of every holiday period, creating bright, welcoming learning environments without disrupting teaching.
"IL Solutions has provided a consistently excellent service every time they have worked in our schools. Great value, great attitude and great results." - Paul, Strategic Estates Lead
Key Outcomes
- Two schools refurbished during the Easter holidays
- Bright, refreshed classrooms ready for the new term
- Flexible response to changing project requirements
- Additional resources kept the programmes on track
- High-quality finish delivered across multiple education settings
Lessons from this Project
School holidays are the ideal time to invest in learning environments
Refurbishment projects carried out during holiday periods allow improvements to be completed safely and efficiently, ensuring pupils and staff return to clean, bright and welcoming spaces without disrupting teaching time.
Planning is everything when reopening dates can't move
Unlike many commercial projects, school refurbishment programmes have a fixed deadline. Flexible resourcing, careful scheduling and the ability to adapt quickly are essential to delivering successful outcomes before the first day back.
Successful education projects rely on more than decorating
Working in schools often involves much more than applying paint. Preparing classrooms, protecting furniture, coordinating access and responding to changing priorities all play an important role in keeping programmes on track and delivering a high-quality result.