Work starts on Nottinghamshire school rebuild

Willmott Dixon has broken ground on the transformation of Outwood Academy Kirkby in Nottinghamshire, to deliver a secondary school and sixth form that will replace the existing 1970s buildings with a modern, sustainable educational facility for 900 pupils.

Appointed by the Department for Education (DfE) as part of the national School Rebuilding Programme (SRP), the project was secured through the DfE Construction Framework following the granting of full planning permission by Ashfield District Council.

Designed by ADP Architecture, the new school buildings will feature purpose-built classrooms for science, drama and technology, enhanced external facilities including a brand new all-weather pitch and multi-use games courts, and spacious social areas.

The school will be powered by a combination of air source heat pumps and solar panels, meet the DfE’s latest sustainability specification, and deliver a ten per cent biodiversity net gain.

Willmott Dixon Director Nick Heath, said: “Willmott Dixon has a strong track record of delivering sustainable schools across the country, including the UK’s first Passivhaus Plus school for the London Borough of Sutton. Aligning the new Outwood Academy Kirkby with the DfE’s latest output specification will help ensure the building is fit for the future. Much of the social value we deliver throughout the construction phase will be focused on helping prepare local students for their own future careers.”

Andy Scruby, Lead Principal at Outwood Academy Kirkby, said: “This is a historic milestone for Outwood Academy Kirkby. Following our recent Ofsted rating and national recognition for transformation, this new building is a pivotal piece of the puzzle. It ensures our students and our wider community will have access to the very best facilities to support their learning, creativity and physical well-being.”