Groundbreaking Ceremony Marks the Start of £5.5 Million Thorp Academy Extension

A groundbreaking ceremony has recently been held to mark the start of a £5.5 million extension at Thorp Academy in Ryton, Gateshead.

The development, which is part of a strategic initiative to accommodate the growing student population, is being delivered by Morgan Sindall Construction on behalf of the Northern Education Trust (NET), through the SCAPE Construction Framework.

The project will see the construction of 10 new classrooms to increase the academy’s capacity. Attendees included key figures from Morgan Sindall, including Project Manager Fran McGrath, Alex Isted, North East and Cumbria Area Director, and Gary Lee, Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Russell Baxter, Executive Director of Estates and Risk at NET, along with representatives from Thorp Academy. Attendees were invited to take a symbolic ‘spade-in-the-ground' photo opportunity to mark the occasion.

The new two-storey facility is scheduled for completion in December 2025 and will be ready for use in the 2026 spring term. In addition to the classrooms, the extension will include a new dining hall, toilet facilities, expanded office and storage spaces, and a plant room to enhance the academy’s overall amenities.

Joanna Macaulay, Principal at Thorp Academy, said:

This development will be so beneficial for our students, and we’re all excited to see the finished facilities next year.”

Alex Isted, Morgan Sindall’s North East and Cumbria Area Director, said:

Across the region, we are seeing a sharp rise in schools requiring additional space to accommodate growing student numbers. Having already applied our expertise to Callerton Academy in Newcastle, we are once again pleased to contribute to expanding the excellent facilities at Thorp Academy, and to increasing their offering so that students may attain the highest levels of education possible now, and in future generations.”

Mark Robinson, Group Chief Executive at SCAPE, said:

It is fantastic to see ground break on this significant project. Through the SCAPE Construction Framework, our client, Northern Education Trust has benefited from early contractor engagement and collaboration from the outset, enabling works to start on site as soon as possible. This is an exciting project that will bring much-needed school spaces to the area when complete, directly benefitting the local community.”

ENDS