Steelwork delivers new school facilities in Stretford

Project team members have celebrated the progress being made on the St John Vianney RC SEND school in Stretford, Manchester, with a steel signing ceremony.

Working on behalf of main contractor Kier, Leach Structural Steelwork is fabricating, supplying and erecting 300t of steelwork for the project.

The job is split into two phases, with the initial work consisting of a new 4,470m² teaching block. It will accommodate 160 pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The school will cater for pupils from primary school age through to year 13.

The new building will include both primary and secondary SEND classrooms, information and communication technology (ICT) classrooms, design technology workshops, food technology classrooms, science studios, hair and beauty training salons and fitness rooms. There will also be medical treatment rooms, therapy rooms, quiet calming spaces and sensory rooms.

Once the first phase is complete, the existing school building will be demolished and a sports hall and hydrotherapy pool (phase two) will be erected.

Mr Moloney, Headteacher at St John Vianney School, said: “The whole school community are really excited about the new building development and have worked closely with Kier and their partners to ensure the project will develop a state-of-the-art facility to meet the needs of our SEND learners. The design concept, which we have developed with Kier, will give the children and young people of St John Vianney outstanding facilities and premises to ensure we can fully deliver our Curriculum intent, to prepare our pupils fully for their steps into adulthood.”

The project, which was procured through the Department for Education’s new CF21 framework, started on site in September 2023 and is due to complete in August 2026.