The awarded ‘batch’, consists of external works to four schools; The Phoenix Collegiate, President Kennedy School, David Nieper Academy and Park Vale Academy, which all began in May, as well as external and additional works at Plantsbrook School, which began in December 2018.

Multi-use sports pitches will be installed at all five schools, to a ‘Sport England’ standard. The team will also be delivering new car parks, paths, landscaping, specialist fencing and outdoor teaching spaces with external auditorium seating, across each site.

The additional works at Plantsbrook School will include the construction of a new sports hall, featuring a large gym, dance studio and a computer room where pupils can study sports performance and technique. As part of the school’s external works, the team will also create a tactile ‘sensory garden’ for students with special educational needs.

As works proceed, the team will face the challenge of delivering within a live environment, as classes continue around each site. VolkerFitzpatrick will work in close collaboration with each school to ensure minimal disruption for teachers and students while the works are completed.

Jason Farr, deputy headteacher at Plantsbrook School, said: “When we moved into our new school building in 2017, everyone got a real lift out of it. Now we’re expecting to get the same boost from our new sports facilities. It’s great to see work beginning and everyone is excited to see the new hall going up.”

Commenting on the Plantsbrook School sports hall, Les Ridgwell, operations manager at VolkerFitzpatrick, said: “We have been working for a year in preparation for taking on this project. Current works are on target to meet the completion date and we are very pleased with the progress that has been made already.”