Morgan Sindall Construction celebrates progress on Outwood Academy City Fields expansion
A steel signing has been held at Morgan Sindall Construction's work at Outwood Academy City Fields school (City Fields). The £7.3m project, which is set to complete in August 2023, reflects an urgent need for extra school places in Wakefield as a result of ongoing housebuilding in the area.
The build, which will connect to the existing building via a link bridge, will comprise science labs, art studios, music rooms and additional classrooms. The project will also include a kitchen extension and refurbishment, with associated external works and will take the school’s admissions number from 150 to 210 students.
As part of its procurement through the SCAPE framework, Morgan Sindall has developed a social value plan that will see it engage with the community around employment and skills training, conservation, volunteering and offering its support to local projects where possible.
Working alongside the end user, Outwood Academy Trust, and in line with its Intelligent Solutions ethos – which incorporates the harnessing of digital and platform-based design tools to create inspiring places and includes a focus on occupant wellbeing and enhancing lives and communities - Morgan Sindall is actively promoting STEM careers through Outwood Academy Trust career events and by offering student groups the chance to tour the site and gain valuable, hands-on work experience with the team.
Further increasing the social value of the extension, four apprentices have been employed to work on the project, obtained through subcontractors, providing in-depth experience to local people trying to develop in the field.
Nick Theos, Morgan Sindall Construction’s project manager for the expansion said:
We were really excited to host this steel signing with the school’s pupils and for them to get a taster of work that’s taking place. We’re a local business and supporting our community really matters - it was a great day for us and I hope it was for the students too.
With the increase of homes in Wakefield there’s a natural demand for more school places and we know just how crucial quality learning environments are for both students and teachers, so to have a hand in providing these much-needed facilities is a responsibility we take seriously.”
A spokesperson for Outwood Grange Academies Trust said:
Outwood Grange Academies Trust, working with Wakefield Council, is pleased to be in partnership for the development of a new two storey teaching block at Outwood Academy City Fields as part of a Basic Need expansion. The new block will provide new modern teaching facilities for Science, ICT, Music and general teaching.
The Trust is working proactively with Morgan Sindall - this has recently included a tour of the construction site for staff and students and also engaging with students over future career opportunities.”
Mark Robinson, group chief executive at SCAPE, said:
Outwood Academy City Fields school is an excellent example of how a project can deliver excellent social value to create a sustainable legacy within the community, whether that be through apprenticeships, or volunteering on local projects. Therefore, we are proud to be collaboratively with our partner, Morgan Sindall to help accelerate this project forward and drive social value forward.”
ENDS
For more information about this news release please contact Tom Carlin at Influential on [email protected]