Pupils cut ribbon to brand-new net-zero primary school in Nottinghamshire
The first cohort of students are settling into their new primary school, Whipman Woods Flying High Academy, which was delivered by Morgan Sindall Construction on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council.
Since opening its doors for September term, pupils have been enjoying taking their classes in the latest learning facilities. Six infant and junior classrooms join a nursery and reception, while other facilities include a library, a SEN/therapy room, and a large sports hall which doubles up as a dining room.
The school also features a dedicated ‘breakfast and after school’ club as well as two group rooms and a multi-use teaching space. Pupils can also make use of large outdoor learning and play areas, various trim trails and play equipment, a MUGA pitch, and a playing field designed by Sport England.
A special ribbon cutting event was held to celebrate the opening of the new school, which will offer space for up to 210 primary and 26 nursery students. Families and friends from the surrounding Worksop community were in attendance along with councillors, members of The Flying High Partnership, and representatives from Arc Partnership, a joint venture between SCAPE and Nottinghamshire County Council, who designed, cost and project managed the scheme.
Procured via the SCAPE Construction framework, the school was constructed using a traditional steel frame and brick, render, and Kalzip vertical cladding, delivering ultimate durability, appealing aesthetics, thermal performance, and insulation. Additionally, the project team designed the academy to allow for future expansion, increasing the total student capacity to 315 if needed.
Aligned with Morgan Sindall’s Intelligent Solutions approach, the design and construction phases incorporated Building Information Modelling (BIM), ensuring greater project certainty by using coordinated, clash-detected 3D models.
The team has also committed to hitting sustainability targets through the installation of air source heat pumps, solar panels, and efficient insulation – all key factors that have contributed towards the school achieving an A+ energy certification, functioning as net-zero in operation.
Richard Fielding, Area Director for Morgan Sindall said:
We are immensely proud to have delivered the Whipman Woods Flying High Academy project. This state-of-the-art primary school represents a significant investment in the future of Gateford and the wider Worksop community.
Working in close collaboration with Nottinghamshire County Council, Arc Partnership, and The Flying High Partnership, we’ve created a modern learning environment that will inspire the next generation. The successful completion of this project demonstrates our commitment to building high-quality educational facilities that meet the growing needs of local families.”
Chris Wheatley OBE, CEO of The Flying High Partnership, said:
It is wonderful to see the confidence and enjoyment of the children, and our invited guests at the launch were rightly impressed. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this fabulous school, it has a staff team and leadership of the highest calibre, who will champion every child to achieve their full potential, in a happy, state of the art new building.
Whipman Woods Flying High Academy is on track to becoming a beacon of learning and a source of pride for all of us, and most importantly of all, for the community it serves.”
Councillor Sam Smith, Nottinghamshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and SEND, said:
I was absolutely delighted to attend the official opening of the new Whipman Woods Flying High Academy and meet the children, school staff, and our partners for this significant milestone.
We have invested more than £11 million in delivering this fantastic project, reinforcing our commitment to ensuring children across Nottinghamshire have access to a good school close to where they live. It’s vital that every child, no matter what their background, gets the best possible education, in the best possible setting.
Schools are at the heart of communities and the new Whipman Woods Flying High Academy will help to meet the demand for school places brought about by new housing developments, such as the one in Gateford, which is providing 210 primary places with room to expand if needed.
Whipman Woods Flying High Academy will be a great addition to the county’s family of schools, as well as a huge benefit to this new community where many new families have moved to.”
Sara Williams, Deputy Managing Director at Arc Partnership, said:
It is fantastic to see the Whipman Woods Flying High Academy officially open its doors to students. From the outset, Arc Partnership were commissioned to provide a school that delivered real value. In addition to the new school being designed and constructed to the highest standard, it has achieved an A+(Net Zero) energy certification, which will continue to provide the Trust and school with significant energy and cost savings for many years to come.
We’re proud to be part of this great project and have enjoyed working together with the County Council, Morgan Sindall, and the Trust to deliver it for the community.”
-ENDS-
For more information, please contact Gabriella Elia at [email protected]