The Building Schools for the Future programme provided us with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to completely rebuild our school. The new building that we have helped design was created before our very eyes and is a physical representation of what we believe in.

Building Schools for the Future is not a matter of bricks and mortar alone and we strived to make sure that our new building is all about learning. We involved staff, students, parents, primary school pupils, and anyone else who had an opinion, in the design process – and we visited a wide range of new schools and other buildings to make sure we learned from the best examples and avoided the mistakes of the others!

In our new building, we have large, flexible learning spaces that enable us to work in different ways and make the very best use of the latest technologies. We have a variety of dining areas offering a range of healthy choices. We have excellent sports facilities, for students and the community. We have a state of the art theatre and media facilities. We have industry-standard science, art and technology facilities. We have attractive, stimulating outside spaces that can be used for learning and leisure. We have the very best in community facilities, including childcare. We have modern, flexible and comfortable furniture. We have clean, safe toilets. We have a building that our students deserve.

The design of our new building has inspired excitement and pride within the Academy and wider community. Everyone involved believes passionately that it will enhance learning opportunities, improve student outcomes and be a beacon of excellence for our local community.