Work started at The Suthers School at Fernwood Business Park

A ground-breaking ceremony marked the start of work on Newark’s third secondary school.

The Suthers School, to be built at Fernwood Business Park, will eventually cater for 830 pupils.

As the main contractor, Derbyshire-based Bowmer and Kirkland will oversee construction of the £15m project.

Representatives of the operators of the free school, the Nova Education Trust, Bowmer and Kirkland, Newark MP Robert Jenrick, who has long lobbied for the school, and some of its future pupils attended Friday’s ceremony.

Mr John Tomasevic, chief executive of the Nova Education Trust, said: “Nova and Robert Jenrick gave a promise to the people of Newark to change education provision within the town.

“I think this is a significant milepost in that journey to bring quality education back to Newark, both with the relocation of The Suthers School from its temporary site and the continued and tangible progress of the Newark Academy.

“For Newark, this is a win-win that brings renewed confidence.”

The head of The Suthers School, Mr Andrew Pettit, said: “This ground-breaking ceremony makes this school a reality.

“Not only are we laying foundations physically, but we are also laying the foundations of a bright future.”

Mr Jenrick said: “This is a momentous day for this school.

“Four years after it was conceived, the ground has finally been broken on the site.

“For the parents and for the town, these prospective premises have now become a certainty and the first classes will be in the new building in 2020.

“The vision of this school throughout was as a centre of excellence providing not in name a grammar school education but an education that exemplifies the characteristics, leadership and very high aspirations of one.”

The contracts manager with Bowmer and Kirkland, Scott Millington, said building was due to start in early February and would start with earth removal, drainage, utilities and ground works.

The foundations will be laid before steelworks commence around April. The building itself will then take shape, followed by the internal works and then the fitting out.

“It is a privilege to be working with the Education Funding Agency and Nova on this project,” Mr Millington said.

It is estimated the new school will be ready for Easter 2020.

Four pupils of The Suthers School, as it exists in its temporary home at Toot Hill School, Bingham ­—another Nova school ­— won a lottery among fellow students to attend the ceremony.

Many of the pupils are local to the Newark area and are currently bussed to Bingham.

Stefan Mihailescue, 12, lives on Fernwood and said he was looking forward to be able to walk to school.

“We are looking forward to shaping the new school,” Stefan said.

“It will be a bigger school and we’ll have new classrooms.”

Beth Carpenter, 12, “I’ve been at the school since it started and it has been good watching it progress.”

Celia Escolano-Ortiz, 12, said: “It is something everyone in school is talking about.”

Finance for the new build has been provided by the Department for Education.

It will expand by a year seven group each year until it reaches full capacity, with a sixth form of 230 students.