New Derbyshire Primary School Invites Local Community to Grand Opening

Clover Leys Spencer Academy invited excited staff, pupils, and parents to its first-ever school fete to celebrate its official opening last month.

Delivered by Morgan Sindall Construction on behalf of Derbyshire County Council, the new 1.5 form primary school will look to serve Boulton Moor, with three separate housing development phases set to provide 1,600 new homes to the area.

The school features seven classrooms with space for 210 students, as well as key facilities such as a playing field, an all-weather play area, a habitat area, 40-space car park for staff and parents, and an outdoor classroom.

Project managed by building design consultants, Concertus, the school’s design includes a steel frame construction with Steel Framing System (SFS) façade, brick and render cladding, and a thin gauge aluminium roof – all features that promote a long-standing, durable structure. The project was completed entirely in-situ, promoting greater structural strength and design flexibility throughout construction.

Procured via the SCAPE Construction framework, Clover Leys Spencer Academy is Morgan Sindall’s third project in collaboration with Derbyshire County Council and the sixth school delivered for the Spencer Academies Trust.

Construction commenced in May 2023 after a period of careful planning and preparation. Throughout project works, a temporary learning village was set up at Chellaston Fields Spencer Academy to ensure students could continue their education without interruption.

Due to the high demand for electricity from nearby housing developments, the existing power supply was insufficient to meet the needs of the academy. To address this, Morgan Sindall constructed a dedicated substation on-site to accommodate the additional power requirements, ensuring the facility was connected to reliable electricity during operations.

Throughout the project, Morgan Sindall demonstrated its commitment to sustainable building practices. This saw the project team work closely with steel work subcontractor MJ Robinson to procure electric arc furnace steel with a 99% recycled steel rate. This proved to be the highest percentage of recycled steel it has secured on a project, equating to approximately 110 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) saved compared with traditional sourced steel. Another example saw hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) utilised to ensure a diesel-free site.

Through the use of CarboniCa, a data-driven tool to monitor and reduce carbon emissions, environmental performance targets were set, including waste reduction, low carbon site operations, and the implementation of a sustainability charter. The project’s dedication to best practices was further validated by achieving a perfect score of 45/45 in the Considerate Constructors Scheme report.

Beyond environmental credentials, Morgan Sindall generated £1.8 million in social value, representing a 21% social return on the project’s cost. The team’s commitment to community engagement is evident in the 73 volunteer hours donated and the support of 144 apprenticeship weeks.

To further enhance the school experience, Morgan Sindall made several donations. Contributions include 20 copies of student workbooks, £3,600 worth of playground markings, and £1,500 for a unified lock system for all school gates, enhancing security and assisting the school’s staff and daily operations.

This project not only strengthens the partnership between Morgan Sindall, Derbyshire County Council, and the Spencer Academies Trust, but also demonstrates the success of collaborative efforts between public and private sectors in delivering essential educational infrastructure.

Richard Fielding, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in the Midlands, said:

The completion of Clover Leys Spencer Academy marks a significant milestone in our ongoing collaboration with Derbyshire County Council and the Spencer Academies Trust, showcasing the importance of collaborative efforts and a shared vision for excellence in education.

It's great to see the children enjoy their new school today, and it’s been a privilege to deliver this fantastic educational facility that will serve generations to come.”

Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Education Councillor Alex Dale said:

This is a significant moment in this school’s story so far and I’m delighted to join pupils, their parents and carers, staff, and all our partner organisations to celebrate this important milestone. We want to thank everyone for their patience, support and for working with us so pupils can now enjoy this fantastic new school.

We’re committed to giving Derbyshire children the best possible start in life and our significant investment in this innovative and exciting building will help us meet that pledge as bring many benefits and be enjoyed for the wider community.”

Rebecca Chapman, Principal at Clover Leys Spencer Academy, said:

We were delighted to welcome Boulton Moor community to our first fundraising event – celebrating not only the opening of the school but some spooky fun for Halloween. Our dressing up competition and pumpkin carving competition encouraged our children and families to get creative and our Autumn stalls raised over £500. The children of Clover Leys Spencer Academy also produced some amazing artwork which was buried in our time capsule – moments that can be shared years later. We look forward to building years of happy learning and memories as we start the journey in our new school.”

Matthew Self, Managing Director at Concertus Design & Property Consultants, said:

We are thrilled to have played a key role in the design and delivery of Clover Leys Spencer Academy. The school's modern, durable structure, with its focus on flexibility and sustainability, reflects our commitment to creating learning environments that stand the test of time. Collaborating with Morgan Sindall Construction and Derbyshire County Council has allowed us to ensure that every aspect of the school’s design will support both the students and the wider community for years to come.”

Mark Robinson, Group Chief Executive at SCAPE, said:

We are delighted to see Clover Ley Spencer Academy officially open its doors to students and staff, helping to provide much-needed additional school spaces in the area.

This project is a prime example of how a school build can incorporate social value at every stage of the project, with £1.8m in social value generated. We were proud to work alongside our partner, Morgan Sindall to enhance the environmental, economic and social impact of the project and leave a long-lasting legacy for the community.”

ENDS

For more information, please contact Gabriella Elia at [email protected]