Construction milestone celebrated at Peterborough’s Great Haddon Primary School
A topping out ceremony has been held to mark a key moment in the creation of a brand-new primary school in Peterborough.
The event saw representatives from Peterborough City Council (PCC), the Hampton Academies Trust (HAT) and Morgan Sindall Construction’s Cambridgeshire business celebrate the completion of the building’s steel structure by signing the exposed beams.
The Great Haddon Primary School will provide a two-storey, two form-entry facility for a new housing development south of Peterborough. Scheduled to complete in late 2026, ready to welcome pupils in early 2027, the 420-place school will meet a growing need for nursery and primary-years education in the local area.
Morgan Sindall was appointed alongside Lungfish Architects by PCC, and the project was procured via the SCAPE Construction Framework.
The main school will accommodate 12 classrooms across two floors, connected by two staircases and a platform lift. Three-metre-wide ‘learning streets’ on both floors will enhance educational opportunities with access to libraries, one-to-one teaching zones, and small group learning areas. The southern end of the building will house the school hall, kitchen, and related spaces.
A single-storey Early Years section will be comprised of two nursery and two reception classrooms with associated facilities and an outside play area. The entrance to the teaching block will distinguish between the Early Years section and the main school.
Externally, a 9 x 9 football pitch, which will double as an athletics track in summer months, will be created alongside a multi-use games area (MUGA).
Sustainability has been a central aspect of the project and the tier one contractor has utilised the digital carbon calculation tool CarboniCa to inform the school’s design. This will include installing photovoltaic panels to generate the school’s energy requirements.
Another key sustainability target for the school is that its construction and operation generate a 12% biodiversity net gain. An attenuation pond will be created with plants, wetland grasses, trees, and raised beds designed to encourage local wildlife to thrive. This pond and a nearby rain garden will provide a green, pleasant space for the school’s pupils.
Morgan Sindall is committed to generating as much social value as possible throughout the development. This has seen several initiatives implemented in the community to provide access to training, skills, and employment opportunities. The Intro2Work programme at Weston Homes Stadium’s youth hub introduced local people to construction sector careers with activities designed to help them secure employment.
In addition, Morgan Sindall launched its Just Transition initiative in Peterborough to support local women looking to enter the construction industry. Participants completed a two‑week course on sustainable building, retrofitting, and modern methods of construction with hands‑on experience of key technologies. Four women will now progress into 12‑week paid internships, with an additional placement on the Great Haddon Primary School project.
Jamie Shearman, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in Cambridgeshire, said:
Reaching this milestone is an exciting moment, as we know this school will play a vital role in Great Haddon’s growing community. Thanks to our close collaboration with Peterborough City Council, Great Haddon Primary School will provide a high-end educational space tailored to the area’s requirements.
The ability of this project to deliver benefits for local people has been underlined by the social value activity that has already taken place, with multiple initiatives underway that have been designed to provide valuable insights and opportunities into careers in the construction sector.”
Councillor Katy Cole, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services at Peterborough City Council, said:
I am absolutely delighted to see construction progressing at pace at Great Haddon Primary School. The school is going to be a huge asset for the township as it develops and will also benefit Peterborough as a whole, for years to come.
I’m proud that Peterborough is one of the country’s fastest growing cities and people want to live work and play here. As a council, we are fully committed to ensuring we have the right infrastructure in place to meet the demands of a growing population which will need additional school places in future.”
ENDS