New 420-pupil school completed in Derbyshire

Midlands contractor GF Tomlinson has completed the construction of Akaal Primary School on Grange Avenue in Normanton, a new school for 420 pupils aged four to 11.

Akaal Primary School, which will meet demands for improved educational standards and an ethical, value-based education in the Normanton and surrounding areas of Derby, will have a Sikh faith ethos. It includes 14 classrooms, a library area, kitchen classroom, main hall/dining area, Special Educational Needs provision, more than 7,000 sq m of outdoor learning space and 2,200 sq m of habitat areas.

GF Tomlinson worked with the school and Maber Architects to design and create a ‘Forest School’, which was formed from surplus materials from the building works, and includes a fire pit, compost areas, two bug hotels and a poly tunnel.

Derby’s first Sikh school, Akaal Primary School, opened in temporary accommodation in September 2015 and currently has pupils enrolled from Reception to Year Three. The new school, located nearby the temporary accommodation, will allow the school to almost quadruple its intake of students over the coming years.

Ian Dalby, framework manager at GF Tomlinson, said: “It was a pleasure to provide Akaal pupils and staff with their brand new school and deliver a new state-of-the-art primary school for them, which also marks another successful project delivered by our team through the ESFA framework.

“It’s hugely important to us that our projects not only bring benefits to our clients but also the local community and we were delighted to see the positive reaction from all involved.

“We hope Akaal Primary School will be an inspirational place of learning for generations to come.”