Multi million pound expansion project set to create 560 extra school places in Rushcliffe

Multi-million-pound expansion project set to create 560 extra school places in Rushcliffe

Nottinghamshire County Council has announced a major £27m investment scheme to create 560 additional school places in Rushcliffe Spencer Academy - 450 secondary places and 110 sixth form places.

The new expansion to Rushcliffe Spencer Academy will help to address the growing demand for more school places in the area and will include:

• A stand-alone new teaching block with dining facilities and sports hall and associated changing facilities;
• Repurposing works to existing buildings;
• improvements to the external area, such as school access, car parking and grass roots pitch areas.

Cabinet Member for Education and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), Councillor Sam Smith, and Director for Education and Inclusion, Peter McConnochie, recently joined the academy's Executive Principal, Graeme Smith, for a tour of the building to see the project's progress.

Following the visit, Cllr Smith, Cabinet Member for Education & SEND, said: "Ensuring every child across Nottinghamshire has access to a good education close to where they live is a priority of mine.

"We are investing over £40m into expanding secondary schools, £38.5m on 95 school building improvement projects and £50m on the creation of more than 350 new SEND school places.

"Part of that investment includes this £27m expansion of Rushcliffe Spencer Academy for the creation of an additional 560 secondary school and sixth form places and I was delighted to tour the building with the executive principal to see the progress being made on the build project.

"This expansion of Rushcliffe Spencer Academy and the future possible expansion of both West Bridgford School and South Wolds Academy, which are subject to feasibility and costings, are significant steps being taken by the council to ensure families in Ruddington, Edwalton, Gamston, Adbolton, Tollerton, and West Bridgford and across Rushcliffe have access to a good local secondary school."

Peter McConnochie, Director for Education and Inclusion said providing more secondary school places in areas where there is a continued demand is something the council is committed to.

He said: "We continue to work with schools and academies across Nottinghamshire to support meeting this need, and this project is just one example of providing long term sustainable school place provision for children and families in Rushcliffe."

Executive Principal at Rushcliffe Spencer Academy, Graeme Smith, added: "The new block and repurposing of our existing buildings will have a significant impact on our ability to continue to provide exceptional education to an increased number of students.

"It was great to show Cllr Smith and Peter McConnochie around the new facilities. We are excited to start the process of moving into them later this year and then getting started on the repurposing phase of the project."

Wayne Bexton, Director with responsibility for property, commented: ''The work on site looks excellent and together with Arc Partnership our oversight of the works is ensuring the build is delivered on time and within budget.

"This will undoubtedly set the bar for expansion projects and will be an exemplar project nationally once it is complete.''

Classes will start to be taught in the new expansion building from October this year, with 60 extra pupils already being admitted last year and this year.

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