SCAPE and Morgan Sindall progress Outwood Academy City Fields expansion

A steel signing has been held at Outwood Academy City Fields school. The £7.3m SCAPE project, which is set to complete in August 2023, reflects an urgent need for extra school places in Wakefield as a result of ongoing housebuilding in the area.

The build, which will connect to the existing building via a link bridge, will comprise science labs, art studios, music rooms and additional classrooms. The project will also include a kitchen extension and refurbishment, with associated external works and will take the school’s admissions number from 150 to 210 students.

As part of its procurement through the SCAPE framework, Morgan Sindall has developed a social value plan that will see it engage with the community around employment and skills training, conservation, volunteering and offering its support to local projects where possible.

Working alongside the end user, Outwood Academy Trust, and in line with its Intelligent Solutions ethos – which incorporates the harnessing of digital and platform-based design tools to create inspiring places and includes a focus on occupant wellbeing and enhancing lives and communities - Morgan Sindall is actively promoting STEM careers through Outwood Academy Trust career events and by offering student groups the chance to tour the site and gain valuable, hands-on work experience with the team.

Further increasing the social value of the extension, four apprentices have been employed to work on the project, obtained through subcontractors, providing in-depth experience to local people trying to develop in the field.

Nick Theos, Morgan Sindall Construction’s project manager for the expansion said: "We were really excited to host this steel signing with the school’s pupils and for them to get a taster of work that’s taking place.

"We’re a local business and supporting our community really matters - it was a great day for us and I hope it was for the students too.
With the increase of homes in Wakefield there’s a natural demand for more school places and we know just how crucial quality learning environments are for both students and teachers, so to have a hand in providing these much-needed facilities is a responsibility we take seriously.”