Nottinghamshire’s educational Priority

Nottinghamshire county councillors and representatives from the Spencer Academy Trust gathered on-site to celebrate the progress of a brand new school near Edwalton.

County council leader councillor Kay Cutts MBE and council chairman councillor Kevin Rostance joined other councillors and trust representatives to mark the building progress of Spencer Rosecliffe Academy by planting a tree – and taking a tour of the site.

The new academy, which is being built on the Sharphill housing development near to Wheatcroft Island, will open in September and will create 315 primary places and a 39-place nursery.

Councillor Kevin Rostance spoke about the school’s progress on site and the huge benefit it will bring to the local community.

He said: “Providing the best educational facilities for young people in Nottinghamshire remains a priority for Nottinghamshire County Council and we are delighted that pupils will soon benefit from this brand-new school.

“The tree planting marked the beginning of works on site and we know that children, parents and teachers are excited for their new school to take shape over the coming months.”

Design, cost and project managed by Arc Partnership, with Morgan Sindall as contractor, the project is being delivered through the Scape Regional Construction framework, which aims to deliver local social value through jobs and economic benefit.

Challenges with acquisition of the site required the project be completed in phases. The academy will open in September, operating from a temporary ‘learning village’ with access to the permanent school hall.

The building will be completed in December and the academy will operate from its permanent home from the beginning of the January 2021 term. The cost of the project is £10 million which includes earth movement to the site and the temporary learning village.

Arc Partnership will continue to work closely with the council, the Spencer Academy Trust and Morgan Sindall to ensure the smooth opening of the learning village and the managed transition to the permanent building at a later date.

When complete, the two-storey building will provide nine classrooms, offices, a large hall and studio hall and an administration zone. Resource areas for independent and small group learning are located throughout the building, which has also been designed to allow extended use of key areas, outside of the normal school day.

Four outdoor sports pitches will feature alongside a soft play area, playground, and an enclosed space for nursery pupils. There will be a 35-space car park including two designated disabled spaces and two for electric vehicle charging.

Present at the event on Tuesday were councillor Kevin Rostance, councillor Kay Cutts, and councillor Jonathan Wheeler. From the Spencer Academy Trust were chief executive Paul West, Angela O’Brien and Pavan Chandhoke.

Paul West of the trust said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Nottinghamshire County Council to open and run Rosecliffe Spencer Academy, the school will be a beacon of excellence for primary education and one that the community will be proud of.”

Source: West Bridgford Wire