Meole Brace School, Shrewsbury teaching hub taking shape
Works to form a new teaching hub at Meole Brace School in Shrewsbury started in January 2021 and are really taking shape. The new five-classroom block will form a new teaching hub for the school.
The building of the new facility is in response to increasing pupil numbers in the area, and will become the centre of history and religious education at the school.
Work is progressing well on site, currently focusing on the brick and block work up to first floor height, which will allow the concrete planks to be installed along with the internal concrete staircase.
The scheme supports the council’s commitment to addressing climate change, being delivered to BREEAM Excellent and Passivhaus standards*.
Meole Brace School new teaching hub taking shape
Karen Bradshaw, Shropshire Council’s for children’s services, said:-
“I’m delighted to see the progress to date to what will be a fantastic new facility for Meole Brace School. Pupils will benefit from a state-of-the-art learning environment and the very latest facilities to help make sure they get the best possible outcome from their education.
“Creating the best start in life for our children and young people has long been our top priority. The new teaching block at Meole Brace School is one of several projects we are investing in to secure high quality and sustainable provision of primary and secondary education in Shrewsbury and surrounding areas, and which is accessible to all.
“The new build also supports our commitment towards more sustainable projects and meeting the council’s 2030 carbon reduction targets.”
Meole Brace School new teaching hub taking shape
Alan Doust, Headteacher, said:-
“We’re very excited about this new building at the school. The additional capacity it will bring will significantly contribute to the ongoing high quality education we offer. We’re delighted about its environmental credentials: it’s excellent to be part of a project that could help set the standard for future buildings.”
Read Construction are undertaking the works, and their site team are in daily contact with the school to discuss them and to keep disruption to a minimum.
Meole Brace School new teaching hub taking shape
Damian Bryan, Read Construction contract manager, said:-
“We’re pleased to be working with Shropshire Council to deliver this new teaching block scheme at Meole Brace School. Work is progressing well, as we continue to work collaboratively with the council and school to deliver this modern learning facility.”
Further information
Expansion of Meole Brace School
The Meole Brace School development programme will include further expanding the secondary provision in Shrewsbury by constructing a new five-classroom teaching block at the school. The school is already taking in additional pupils over and above their published admission number.
The project will involve the development of a new teaching block on the edge of the school site. The location will allow the construction of the new building to be carried out with minimal disruption to the operation of the day-to-day education of pupils at the school.
The new teaching block is scheduled for completion autumn 2021.
The project forms part of Shropshire Council’s £27.2million investment to expand primary school and secondary provision across Shrewsbury to meet the increasing demand for pupil places across the town and surrounding areas.
The Shrewsbury School Places Programme also includes the Haughmond Federation new build at the Harlescott Junior School site on Featherbed Lane, and the new primary and special schools in Bowbrook, off Squinter Pip Way.
The Meole Brace School project was designed, up to planning by the council’s PSG team, and the contract has been awarded to Reads Construction under a design and build project.
*BREEAM is the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for master planning projects, infrastructure and buildings. It recognises and reflects the value in higher performing assets across the built environment lifecycle, from new construction to in-use and refurbishment. You can find out more here.
A Passivhaus is a building in which thermal comfort can be achieved solely by post-heating or post-cooling the fresh air flow required for a good indoor air quality, without the need for additional recirculation of air. You can find out more here.
