YourNews: Derbyshire construction firm starts work on new sports academy at South Yorkshire school

Work has officially started on a new multi-million pound sports complex at a South Yorkshire school, which is being named after a former teacher.

The new facility at Brinsworth Academy in Rotherham is being built by Wildgoose Construction and it will provide a new multi-use sports hall, dance studio, changing room and classrooms.

The centre is being named after Ian Burton who taught PE and outdoor activities at the school for 36 years before he died in 2014 from cancer.

Ian’s wife Jean and daughter Victoria, both from Rotherham, came back to the school join pupils, teachers and representatives from Derbyshire-based Wildgoose to officially break ground on the £2.3m project.

Work is estimated to take 46 weeks, with the new Ian Burton Sports Complex being completed for October 2017.

As well as delivering the new building, Wildgoose will also demolish the existing 1970s sports hall on site.

Andrew Riches and Wayne Barsby, Co-Headteachers at Brinsworth Academy, said: “This new complex is a fitting tribute to Ian and a legacy to him, as he spent his life inspiring young people.

“We are very excited to be working with Wildgoose Construction and looking forward to welcoming everyone back to open the new facility next year.

“This is about investing in young people and inspiring them, something Ian spent many years doing when he taught here. It will have a tremendous impact on the academy. We have very successful sports programmes at both GCSE and A-Level and it will provide a springboard to promoting sport and health and wellbeing and will be a great facility.

“This is very much about investing in the young people and raising their aspirations. The academy is thriving. We have caring and high quality teaching staff like Ian – he was what teaching is all about – giving confidence and opportunities to young people.”

Jean Burton said: “On behalf of all our family I’d like to say a bigthank you to the school. Ian would have been really proud and very excited about the project and hopeful of the sporting opportunities that this will offer with the next phase when it opens. We can’t wait to come back and see it when it’s finished.

“It’s all about inspiring young people. Ian was very passionate about leadership and opportunities for young people and he would have loved this.”

Daughter Victoria Burton, 26, said: “Dad would have been really buzzing about the project – he was over the moon with the development when they first told him about it. They showed him the plans and that they were going to name it after him and he was so proud.”

Jonathan Wildgoose, Chairman of Wildgoose Construction, said: “We are very proud to have been chosen to be the contractor entrusted to deliver this inspirational project which will provide a wonderful sporting facility for future generations; one which will also, and very importantly be a fitting memorial to Ian Burton, a former teacher at the school who passed away whilst still teaching there. Through this new sporting facility he will continue to inspire pupils and staff alike with memories of his leadership and passion for youthful achievement.

“As a close knit and family orientated company we identify with the family values epitomised by the school and we, with our design and construction teams, look forward to working with the staff and pupils of the school, to create this first class sporting facility which we are sure will provide inspiration and opportunity for future generations, whilst also ensuring that Ian Burton and his family are given a very fitting memorial and lasting tribute that will continue to inspire young people for generations to come.”

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