A contract to build 16 new state-of-the-art classrooms at Bedford Academy has been agreed, as part of an ambitious vision which will eventually see the school expand to teach 1,800 pupils.
Bedford Borough Council has awarded the contract to Ashe Construction. The 60-week project will see 16 classrooms constructed, along with changing rooms, a dining area and a community cafe.
The school, in Mile Road, currently has 1,350 pupils on roll; the extension will allow it to accommodate 300 additional children as part of phased growth to 1,800 pupils by 2029, making it one of the largest secondary schools in Bedford Borough.
The new classrooms will have a bright, safe, simple design, with whiteboards and ICT facilities. Feedback from students has been incorporated in the layout of rooms, with teachers able to circulate freely around desks allowing them to have closer contact with every pupil while being able to remotely access the whiteboard and operate PowerPoint presentations to aid learning.
The extension, designed by GSS Architecture, will create versatile multi-use spaces that will provide a community hub outside of school learning hours. A landscaped external terrace area will enable some classrooms to be opened for secure access to the outdoors. And the facilities will also be available for hire, both by individuals, and by community groups such as football, basketball and badminton clubs, faith groups and dance schools.
A flexible, multi-use space including kitchen, dining hall and community cafe with Wi-Fi will be open to parents and visitors during evening and weekend activities, with space for up to 300 people in one sitting.
The two-storey extension will operate to high energy efficiency levels with ‘U Values’ that ensure minimal heat loss through the facade of the building. Ashe Construction will use a special product to coat both sides of the external walls, to provide the airtightness required for Net Zero Carbon in Operation standard. The school will be powered by photo voltaic solar panels installed on the roof to create as much renewable energy as possible, while air source heat pumps will generate energy for heating.
Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery units will be installed in ceiling voids which will be attached to louvres in the facade to enable air to flow in and out. Heat from the air source heat pumps will be recovered and used to warm the returning air in the colder months.
Chris Morris, Chief Officer for Education, SEND and Schools at Bedford Borough Council, said; “This is about more than expanding a popular school with a Good rating from Ofsted. It is an opportunity to provide high-quality facilities for the entire community.
“Pupils have been at the heart of creating the vision for the new facilities, and we hope their legacy will be felt for generations to come.”
Chris Dellar, headteacher at Bedford Academy said; “We are making the most of this opportunity to provide new sustainable facilities for our school, our children and our community.
“We are going to provide them with lovely new, bright and clean learning spaces. The families who use our buildings outside of school time will have access to our large dining hall which will double up as a café for parents to use while they wait for their children to finish their activities.”
Bedford Academy has recently installed a new 3G AstroTurf pitch and Ashe Construction will construct four new changing rooms which will accommodate180 students, further enhancing the school’s sports provision, along with referee changing rooms.
A silent study area and office spaces for staff to work will be included and 300 student lockers will be installed.
20 new carparking spaces, disabled parking and four electric vehicle spaces will be created. The school will also add 77 new cycle spaces to encourage sustainable travel to school.
Pick Everard has been appointed by Bedford Borough Council to project manage the scheme, which is expected to be completed in in time for the 2025-26 school year.
Sean Conneely, Director of Project Management for Pick Everard said; “Everyone involved with planning this project has come together to work collaboratively to take an idea to reality.
“Working closely with the school, Bedford Borough Council, Ashe and project consultants, we’re going to increase capacity to teach many more pupils who live in the area. The children will benefit from excellent facilities that are designed to be conducive to learning whilst being sustainable and efficient to operate.
“Well done to everyone in the team for making this project a reality.”
Ashe will use social value activities such as sponsoring local social interest company Food etc which provides cookery courses to families in disadvantaged areas of Bedford. Ashe, supported by Pick Everard, will also introduce students the careers available in the construction industry to help combat the construction skills shortage.
Andrew Morris, Ashe’s Business Development Director said; “We’re very sensitive to the needs of schools when we’re working in live settings so we will bring all our experience to bear on this project for Bedford Academy.
“We also plan to involve the whole school community in events to celebrate project milestones and will find opportunities to show the pupils, firsthand, the variety of construction-related careers available to them in the future.
“They’ll be able to see how their new facilities develop and by inviting them to see our team at work, they can find out more about the different roles that work together to deliver outstanding projects.”
The project has been procured through the SCAPE Framework.