The Newark Academy's rebuild on track ahead of January opening

Work on a £20m rebuild of The Newark Academy is on track, ahead of its planned opening in January.

Money for the new three-storey facility, being built by construction firm Kier next to the site of the existing school on London Road, came from the Priority Schools Building Programme in partnership with the coalition Government’s Education Funding Agency.

There are an average of 60 workers on site at any given time, working on both the main school building and its new sports centre.

External view of The Newark Academy's new sports centre and school

The project manager for Kier, Mr Gavin Colton, said: “The most difficult part of the build has been the logistics, given the sheer amount of materials we have to get through the site while the school itself is still operating.

“It’s taken a lot of planning, but there have been some good discussions with the school throughout.

Inside the new building

“We have just completed the structural frames and the building is in the early stages of being made watertight.

“We have tried to use as many local companies as possible throughout. For example, we have used Hy-Ten in Newark for the reinforcement.”

The former Grove School became an academy in 2012 and is sponsored by Lincoln College, which runs Newark College.

The design includes larger classrooms and external courtyards. The bespoke design also means certain classrooms, like those for art, have been specifically located to make the best use of light.

Principal Karine Jasper said: “Even when we held our turf-cutting ceremony in November, I still think some people didn’t quite believe this was going to happen.

“The climate for learning will be more bespoke, and there’s a real belief that Newark deserves a new school — and is getting it.”

The courtyard

The rebuild was secured after a strong campaign by parents who said the old buildings were no longer fit for purpose.