Bedford Academy

The recent expansion of the school will add 16 new classrooms, a changing area, a dining area, and a community café. The building is designed to be highly efficient and will achieve Net Zero Carbon in its operations.

The new classrooms will be bright and safe, featuring simple layouts with whiteboards and ICT facilities. Student feedback has been included in the room designs, allowing teachers to move freely around the desks. This arrangement enables closer contact with individual pupils while providing remote access to the whiteboards and the ability to operate PowerPoint presentations to enhance learning.

The extension will provide versatile multi-use spaces that can serve as a community hub outside school hours. Some of the rooms will feature two points of internal access depending on the time of day and user group. Additionally, a landscaped external terrace area will allow secure access to the outdoors from certain classrooms. Community users include football, basketball, and badminton clubs, faith groups, and dance schools. Individuals will have the opportunity to hire the facilities for personal use.

With the diverse community users in mind, the flexible multi-use space will include a kitchen, dining hall, and community café with Wi-Fi, accommodating up to 300 people at one time during evening and weekend activities.

Additionally, Bedford Academy has recently installed a new 3G Astroturf pitch, and four new changing rooms will be constructed to accommodate 180 students, along with referee changing rooms.

A silent study area, staff office spaces, and 300 student lockers will also be included in the expansion. Furthermore, there will be 20 new parking spaces, including designated spots for disabled individuals and four electric vehicle charging spaces. The school will also provide 77 new cycle spaces to encourage sustainable travel.