The new £4m Nottingham Academy expansion will officially open this week – as part of the City Council’s ambitious plan to increase the number of primary school places in Nottingham.
Based in Sneinton Boulevard, Sneinton, the new building is creating an additional 420 places for primary pupils.
The academy opened its doors to pupils on Monday 12 September and held an open day to give parents the chance to see children working in their new classrooms, but the site will be officially opened at a ribbon cutting event on Friday 30 September.
Work began at the site in August 2015 and now boasts:
• 14 new classrooms
• hall
• learning resource centre/ library space
• new playground
As part of the city’s expansion plan, thousands of school places have been created by the City Council, thanks to £41.9million investment.
Councillor Sam Webster, Portfolio Holder for Education, Employment and Skills, said: “Our work with Nottingham Academy represents an important partnership – together we are meeting continuing demand for places. I’m pleased that we have been able to invest in the school and provide some great facilities in the new building.
“This is the latest stage of the programme of primary school expansions that the city council has led since 2010. Our expansion strategy will ensure that every child and young person has access to the very best facilities in order to help them to succeed.”
Steve Jones, Head of School (Primary) at Nottingham Academy, said: “We are an Ofsted rated ‘Good’ school and there are many parents who wished their child could gain a place at the Nottingham Academy, but could not because we were over-subscribed.
“The opening of our new state-of-the-art building represents a major milestone in the history of Nottingham Academy. This new building will deliver outstanding facilities for young people and the wider community. Investment in our schools is crucial and Nottingham Academy will have all of the resources to enable pupils to realise their potential and access new and exciting opportunities.
“Since opening our doors, we have seen an instant uplift in pupil attitudes and behaviour. It is clear that the investment made in our new academy really is having a positive effect. Our children, parents and staff are extremely proud to be a part of the newly-extended Nottingham Academy.”
The new building has been designed by Nottingham-based architects Franklin Ellis and built by Carillion. They were appointed as the main contractor through Local Education Partnership: inspiredspaces.
Further areas of Nottingham are set to benefit from the school expansion programme in 2016, with new places for children created at schools in Bilborough, Radford, Aspley and Clifton.
In Wollaton, the first phase of a 210-place expansion at Fernwood Primary School is complete and work has started on the second phase of the project. When completed, pupil intake will rise to 1,050 places.