Contractor selected for South Wales secondary school

Morgan Sindall Construction has been selected to deliver a £29M secondary school in Barry, South Wales, which will accommodate 1,100 pupils.

Vale of Glamorgan Council has appointed the company through the South East and Mid Wales Collaborative Construction Framework (SEWSCAP), as part of Wales’ 21st Century Schools Programme for investment in education.

The proposed new build will replace the existing Whitmore High School, which currently supports 905 pupils. The current school will remain open for the duration of the construction period, before being demolished.

Teaching space will be spread across three storeys, with 70 general classrooms and two drama and activity studios encompassed within the 11,000m2 site.

Sporting facilities are provided through both indoor and outdoor spaces, with an all-weather pitch and multi-use games court.

There will also be a state-of-the-art music studio, an art learning resource centre, multi-functional hall with retractable seating, and large dining area.

The building is targeting a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating with sustainability an important part of the local authority’s brief.

Work will start on the site in autumn 2019 and is expected to complete by spring 2022.

Councillor Lis Burnett, Vale of Glamorgan Council Cabinet Member for Education and Regeneration, said: “This exciting project will help provide state-of-the-art facilities for school pupils and is part of extensive investment in education as part of the Council’s 21st Century Schools programme.”