The council delivered project will see Wates Construction build a new 6646 sq m school building to the rear of the existing academy on Gardens Lane, which will remain operational during construction.
The work will include the design and build of a new two-storey main school building, refurbishment of the existing sports hall, and the remodeling of the academy’s Student Support block to create a new Design, Technology and Construction centre.
De Warenne Academy, which was designed by CPMG Architects, was granted planning permission in November 2011 and will see the academy expand to provide 750 places for 11-18 year olds. Completion is scheduled for February 2013.
Mayor of Doncaster, Peter Davies, said: “It is fantastic to see work get underway and there is obvious excitement throughout the school. The educational facilities are being transformed and the modern learning environment will help the young people grow, develop and make the most of their talents. The Academy is set to become an asset the whole community can tap into and will benefit generations to come.”
Principal Gill Pollard said, “We are delighted that work has started on our fantastic new building. It will allow us to give all our students the modern facilities that they deserve and support us in continuing the significant improvements that have already been made since we became an academy. Our students tell us they are really excited about this development and are looking forward to contributing further to the plans. It is hoped that some students will have the opportunity to work with Wates to contribute to the building of the academy.”
David Price, Business Unit Director for Wates Construction in Yorkshire, commented: "Today marks an exciting time for Wates as we embark on the delivery of this latest academy project. We look forward to continuing our work with Doncaster Council’s education build team and further contributing to the transformation of the borough’s educational landscape. We have an excellent site team in place and we fully intend to utilise this project to uphold our commitment to making a positive impact on the areas in which we work.”
The move on site at De Warenne comes just three months after Wates began work to deliver the new £16million Outwood Academy Adwick and as building work on the new Campsmount Technology College is expected to be complete.
Both academies have also been designed by CPMG Architects.
Sara Harraway director of CPMG said: “It’s exciting to see work finally start on site after months of design development with the sponsor, the academy, its students and the wider community. They can now look forward to the learning opportunities that the new academy will bring through its construction and into the future.”
Both Outwood Academy and De Warenne Academy come on the back of Wates’ role in the rebuild of Campsmount Technology College in Doncaster, which was destroyed by fire in 2009. This is through a Future Schools Agreement used to speed up the procurement of the new Outwood and De Warenne academies.
Wates was the first contractor to successfully pilot the government’s simplified procurement process as part of the Review of Education Capital.
The Government’s Review of Education Capital, led by Sebastian James, made recommendations to speed up and reduce the cost of procurement of school rebuilding projects across the country. It is partly due to the success of Campsmount that Doncaster’s two academies were given early approval to start.
De Warenne Academy is being delivered by Doncaster Council’s Education Build team, on behalf of the academy sponsor, the School Partnership Trust with support from Partnerships for Schools (PfS).
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