Construction has started on a £12 million school upgrade project near Hull.

A turf cutting ceremony was held at Withernsea High School in East Yorkshire today by head teacher Richard Williman, town mayor Anne Blake and representatives of BAM Construction.

The contractor, which has offices in Leeds, will deliver a new three-storey building on the site of the existing school on the Hull Road before demolishing some existing classrooms to create playing fields and car parking.

At 9,500 sq m, the finished school building will be slightly smaller than present but will be more modern, comfortable and easy to navigate as well as having top class sport facilities.

Teaching spaces will include workshops for vocational learning on resistant materials and art, as well as traditional classrooms for maths, English, science and other subjects. There will be a sports hall and dance studios.

“Having worked so closely with the EFA, BAM and the Local Authority on the planning of our new school, seeing the cutting of the first turf is a really exciting day.

“This development will have such a profound impact on the whole Withernsea community that today has even greater significance. We look forward to seeing the building evolve over the next 18 months"

Richard Williman

Headteacher

BAM will work to ensure pupils at the school benefit from the construction project as a learning resource, and hopes to use local suppliers where possible.

The scheme – expected to complete in summer 2016 – is the first of four East Yorkshire school building schemes taking place through the government’s Priority Schools Building Programme.

BAM won the right to negotiate on projects at Wolfreton School and Sixth Form College, as well as Neasden and Foredyke Primary Schools, when it won the Withernsea project through a competitive process.

The contractor recently completed Boulevard Academy in Hull as well as the Humberside Police Headquarters.

As well as Williman, Blake and Perry, the turf cutting ceremony at Withernsea was attended by chair of governors Caroline Heaton, Brian Cloke from Withernsea Town Council, Paul Collins from East Riding of Yorkshire Council and BAM project director Paul Cleminson.
“We are delighted to be underway on this important project for Withernsea, and look forward to using our skills and experience to deliver a fantastic school for teachers and pupils alike.

“BAM will work as always to ensure the local community benefits at construction stage as well as from the finished building.” Roy Perry, Project Manager