Multi-million-pound works underway on school extension

Work is well underway on a multi-million-pound expansion to provide extra classroom capacity at Outwood Academy Bishopsgarth.

The £6.2m investment on the school site includes a new block to provide high quality classrooms to accommodate increased pupil admissions, as well as work to create an additional science facility.

The expansion is part of the Council's £57.7m investment into the Borough's schools and nurseries.

The new building at Bishopsgarth, on Harrowgate Lane, will see the school able to increase Year 7 admission numbers from September 2023.

It comes after Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council identified the need to increase the number of secondary places following an increase in population and significant new housing developments in the Borough.

Sabiha Laher, Associate Executive Principal at Outwood Academy Bishopsgarth, said: "Staff and students are really excited to see the progress being made to the new building - there is something new to see every week. 

"The new building will make a significant difference to the school as it will include a new kitchen, dining space and multiple classroom spaces. 

"It's important we have some input from students regarding the interior of the building and Mr Rhodes, Head of School, will be working closely with a group of students to determine what this might look like."     

The new build will also feature sustainable elements in the design, such as solar panels.

The multi-million-pound school investment programme is funded by money the Council secured from Government, plus contributions from schools and developers.

Councillor Lisa Evans, the Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "Exciting new developments like this one at Outwood Academy Bishopsgarth will ensure our schools have enough capacity to keep pace with the Borough's growth.

"We've been making massive investment in school buildings across the Borough in recent years, irrespective of whether they are schools or academies, creating space for more pupils and all kinds of brilliant facilities too.

"All of the funding for this work is coming from money we've secured from Government in the shape of 'basic need' funding, combined with money from schools and contributions that housing developers are obliged to make towards these facilities.

"It's vitally important that we do all we can to provide our children and young people with high quality learning environments fit for a modern education. It's about giving them the very best start we can, and I'm sure parents and carers would support that."

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