Work starts on £19m school build

Work has started on a £19m school in Yardley Wood, Birmingham.

Christ Church, Church of England, Secondary Academy – which is due to open in 2021 – is being built by the Department for Education (DfE) to create a further 1150 school places in the region.

Designed by architecture firm CPMG Architects, the building will comprise pick-up and drop-off area for pupils, a sports hall, two full size football pitches and one FA standard 3G pitch. Upon completion the new school will accommodate 900 pupils and a further 250 students in the sixth form.

Dan Doyle, operations director at Willmott Dixon, said: “We are pleased to be working with the DfE to create a new contemporary building which will meet the needs of the local community. This new building will enhance the current area and will provide state of the art facilities for students and create an outstanding school for Yardley Wood.”

The Birmingham Diocesan Multi-Academy Trust said: “We are delighted that the building is underway and are certain that Willmott Dixon will deliver a school that will open new opportunities for the young people of Yardley Wood.”

Sara Harraway, director at CPMG Architects, said: “The design will create a positive, bright, robust and attractive environment for the education of the next generation of students and will promote a sense of calm and sophistication. Large, high windows will be integrated into the design to optimise daylight – just one of the many elements ensuring the wellbeing of the building’s users.

“We’re really pleased to be working with Willmott Dixon on this latest development, and to be showcasing our expertise in educational buildings, and we look forward to working together to bring over 1,100 new school places to the local area.”