Shrewsbury Academy set to deliver first class education facilities for the local community

Dan Harmer, Project Manager at Tilbury Douglas, explains how the Shrewsbury Academy project will make a lasting impact to the local community once completed.
As the lead contractor working to deliver the Shrewsbury Academy Project, on behalf of the Department for Education, we have partnered with key stakeholders to ensure the new and updated buildings are delivered to the highest quality. This will enable the Academy to offer first-class educational facilities to a greater number of local students.
The overall scheme is phased into two distinct sections. The first phases include the Haughmond building (refurbishment of the Former Sundorne Infants school) and some refurbishment works within the main school in the summer holidays. The most significant element is the construction of a new Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths (STEM) block, as well as refurbishment works to the interconnecting blocks for connectivity to the main school. This scheme will allow the school to expand from 850 pupils to 1,200 pupils and offer fantastic new facilities for the students and teaching staff alike.
The goal is to bring together the new and old buildings to become a modern school campus, free up space and become a much more accessible school for the community.
Delivery phases
Due to its scale, the project has been split into six sections, which include:
- Section 1: Remodel and refresh of existing Sundorne Infant School
- Section 2: Secondary School remodel and refresh to individual areas in summer holidays
- Section 3: Forming of server room
- Section 4: New build extension to existing secondary school and external works including hard and soft landscaping and secondary school remodel and refresh to individual areas
- Section 5: Additional secondary school remodel and refresh to individual areas
- Section 6: Demolition of existing cadet accommodation, updating the existing tennis courts after removal of modular units and then the refurbishment of existing modular unit into new cadet accommodation
Phase 1: transformation works
The scheme incorporates the previously vacant Sundorne Infant School site, now named the Haughmond Building, which sits adjacent to the existing secondary school. This has now been transformed into new secondary teaching space for Shrewsbury Academy. The works have included a mixture of asbestos removal, internal wall adjustments to suit the new layout and internal fit out, all new mechanical & electrical works, replacement roofing felt with new insulation and light touch works to the envelope.
Converting a 1950s building that’s had multiple additions, most recently in 2020, has been a challenge, working with the very new and the very old. Initially designed as a primary school in the 1950s, the unique format enabled the original design to be quickly converted into a war hospital, if required. This meant the building has very long straight corridors, classrooms with full height windows that could be used as wards, and toilets that could be turned into showers. Updating this design to be used as modern teaching space has been an interesting and unusual project. Whilst modernising this building, we were able to create many more accessible spaces.
Phase 1: summer works
The scheme required us to take over much of the school in the summer to decant the next phase into the Haughmond, refresh two classrooms, refurbish the existing school gym and upgrade the main hall’s AV system.
The Haughmond building and the refurbishment works were completed and handed back for the academic start in September.
Phase 2: the new build
This phase started in conjunction with the Haughmond refurbishment and with detailed collaboration with the school, the construction works for the new build took place whilst the remaining site is still a live school with students and teachers in post. This approach took collaboration with key stakeholders, as well as local residents throughout.
The STEM block is a modern steel frame structure built with fabric first in mind to ensure that it is efficient, and the layout designed to enhance the offering to the students. The extension allows connectivity from the main school and enhances the overall student mobility, with the provision of a lift and new ramps. The extension will house six science labs, a new double height Learning Resource Centre, food tech, resistant materials space and a new graphics space.
In addition, the project provides a new landscaped central quadrangle and enhancements to the whole site’s biodiversity.
Giving back to the community
As part of our commitment to giving back to the local community, we had the pleasure of supporting Marches Academy Trust, part of Shrewsbury Academy, through the implementation of digital construction careers and the provision of interactive resources for students at their recent careers fair.
As part of our collaboration with our digital partner, Unity, they created interactive games for the students to try using VR headsets, which the students really enjoyed.
We have also supported the Academy’s Mock Interview Day for year 10 students, offering guidance and inspiration for their future endeavours alongside our supply chain partners. We are dedicated to continuing our collaboration and empowering students to achieve their full potential.
Looking ahead
As we pass the halfway mark and with the aim of a summer 2025 handover, the project phases will continue to progress, with lots of moving parts, whilst continuing to work closely with the school within the live environment to minimise or avoid disruption.
Utilising the skills of a strong experienced team, whilst also investing in local apprentices, the project will continue to add value to the local community through social value initiatives.
Once completed, the new facilities will offer accessible state-of-the-art teaching spaces for the Academy, enabling the delivery of first-class teaching to local students.