Morgan Sindall Construction breaks ground at Chuter Ede Primary School to double school’s capacity
Morgan Sindall Construction has begun significant expansion works at Chuter Ede Primary School's Fernwood site near Newark, which will double the school's capacity.
Designed, project and cost-managed by Arc Partnership, a joint venture between Nottinghamshire County Council and SCAPE, the £9.4 million project will deliver an additional 210 primary school places, addressing growing demand in the area.
Funded through £5.4 million from Nottinghamshire County Council's school places programme and £4 million from housing developer contributions, the expansion will provide eight new classrooms, a library and music room, an activity hall, a medical room, and enhanced sports facilities – including multiple sports pitches and dedicated playing areas.
To mark the official start of construction, key stakeholders gathered at the site, with Nottinghamshire County Council represented by Councillor James Walker-Gurley, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Asset Management, joined by Councillor Hana John, Cabinet Member for Education and SEND, and Councillor Rory Green, Cabinet Member for Children and Families, celebrating the collaborative effort driving this project forward.
Procured via the SCAPE Construction framework, - the project is on schedule for completion ahead of the new school intake in September 2026.
The development is providing valuable opportunities for the local workforce. For example, Lewis Hartshone, a 22-year-old graduate site manager with Morgan Sindall Construction, is gaining hands-on experience leading inspections from initial site establishment through to complex groundworks operations, strengthening his technical expertise on this high-profile project.
Lewis said:
It’s exciting to be part of delivering this phase of this project, which has been instrumental in advancing my capabilities as a graduate site manager. I’ve been leading inspections from the initial site establishment through to complex groundworks operations, which has strengthened my technical expertise. It's great to be a part of the project and learn from all the professionals in this team.”
In addition, students at Nottingham Trent University are developing their skills in architecture, technology, project management and quantity surveying through partnerships with Arc Partnership and Morgan Sindall, including site visits and project-focused lectures.
Chuter Ede Fernwood, an annex of Chuter Ede Primary School at Balderton, was originally built by Morgan Sindall in 2012 to service the growing number of children from the new Fernwood estate and is being developed in three phases.
The first two phases have been completed and have seen the creation of a sports field, outdoor play area, car parking and landscaping in addition to the original school building.
Councillor James Walker-Gurley, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Asset Management at Nottinghamshire County Council, said:
We are proud of this project as there is no better investment than increasing the number of school places for our future generations.
Improving facilities is essential as young people deserve to learn in well-equipped and modern buildings to help their education.”
Head Teacher Mrs Bernadette Hunter said:
Our school plays a central role in the local community. The new classrooms and other key rooms will be welcomed with open arms by the staff and pupils alike. We very much look forward to keeping everyone informed about the building works over the coming months.”
Richard Fielding, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in the Midlands, added:
We're delighted to break ground on this important project at Chuter Ede Primary School, providing vital additional capacity for the growing Fernwood community. Working alongside Arc Partnership and Nottinghamshire County Council, we're committed to delivering a modern learning environment while minimising disruption to the school's daily operations. This project demonstrates our continued dedication to creating exceptional educational facilities across Nottinghamshire."
ENDS