Morgan Sindall Construction celebrates milestone at new £20m Sharlston Community School
Morgan Sindall Construction celebrates milestone at new £20m Sharlston Community School
Representatives from Morgan Sindall Construction’s Yorkshire team were joined by the Department for Education (DfE), the Waterton Academy Trust and invited guests from the school and community on the 16th October for a steel signing ceremony to commemorate the occasion.
The event gave the visitors an exciting opportunity to leave their mark on the school's future by signing a section of the building's structural steelwork before witnessing it being lifted by crane into place.
The new primary school, located in Sharlston Common, West Yorkshire, being delivered on behalf of the DfE, will provide places for 315 pupils, alongside 39 nursery.
A single-storey building will replace the previous school and will host children from nursery age through to Year Six, and will include classrooms, a sports hall, an assembly room, and a kitchen.
Construction is being delivered in two phases. The first phase focuses on the development of the new school building, whilst the second phase will involve the demolition of the existing facilities. The cleared space will be used for a new playground, a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA), and staff parking facilities.
Morgan Sindall remains committed to sustainability as a key part of the project. Green spaces around the school will be improved, including sports fields, landscaping, and ecology works. The building will also be fitted with ground source heat pumps and a bio solar roof, which utilises Photovoltaic (PV) panels.
The team is also dedicated to delivering significant social value benefits throughout the project, targeting 75% of its SME supply chain spend with local businesses, supporting the regional economy and creating opportunities for local companies. Strong links have also been forged with the school community, with pupils set to play an active role in designing a bespoke mural for the rear wall of the new building.
Ben Hall, Area Director at Morgan Sindall Yorkshire, said:
“Reaching this stage of the project is an important milestone as the new school begins to take shape. At Sharlston, we’re proud to be delivering a modern, sustainable school that is fit for purpose, built with the future in mind and will provide a lasting benefit for the local community for generations to come.”
Dave Dickinson, Chief Executive Officer of Waterton Academy Trust, said:
‘This is an exciting moment for Sharlston Community School, Waterton Academy Trust, and the wider community. The steel signing marks a significant milestone in the delivery of this fantastic new school building that will provide an inspiring, modern learning environment for many years to come.
We are incredibly proud to be investing in the future of education in Sharlston and look forward to seeing pupils and families benefit from this new facility. Parents and carers who would like to find out more about the school are warmly encouraged to contact the school to arrange a visit.’