BAM reaches major milestone at Northumberland super school
BAM reaches major milestone at Northumberland super school
Featuring state-of-the-art learning and sports facilities the new £50m Seaton Valley super school – delivered by BAM for Northumberland County Council – is on track to welcome over 1,200 students in September 2025.
Once complete, the school will become home to students from two Northumberland schools, Astley Community High School and Whytrig Middle School. The new shared campus will provide a state-of-the-art, net zero learning environment, along with sports facilities including a fitness studio, swimming pool and 3G pitch which will be available for use by the wider community.
To mark the school reaching its highest point students joined BAM and Northumberland County Council on site for a topping out ceremony.
Astley Community High School and Whytrig Middle School students, Charlotte and Stephen, were invited on a tour of the site to report back to fellow students on the latest progress.
Charlotte said: “The new school build is getting along great and I can’t wait. I’m very excited for it to be finished as from the plans it looks very modern. I think the thing I am most excited about is the swimming pool.”
Stephen added: “The building is massive and it was good to see them working on the sports facilities. We heard how they will all be available for the community too.”
Providing learning opportunities for local students throughout the build has been central to the project with BAM offering summer work placements to sixth form students, engineering-focused maths lessons, and advice on careers in construction.
The project is also providing opportunities for local people and businesses. During the first six months of the project, nine Northumberland-based subcontractors have been appointed to work on the site, with more to come as the project progresses, and to date the project has employed 5 local apprentices.
Tony Fitzgerald, Construction Director, BAM, said:
“An important driver for BAM is ensuring our projects positively impact the local community whilst we’re on site.
“We’re working closely with local schools to provide fantastic learning opportunities, centred in real-world construction and engineering. What better way to learn about maths, than to see how it’s used to engineer the new school and community swimming pool?”
“We’re also driving investment into the local economy by employing Northumberland-based subcontractors, procuring materials locally and creating employment and apprenticeship opportunities on the project. As the project progresses we look forward to continuing to engage with the school and surrounding area.”
Cllr Guy Renner-Thompson, Cabinet member for Inspiring Young People, said: “We’re almost six months into the project and there has been so much progress. We can now see where the individual classrooms are, where the swimming pool is and the sports fields. We’re on schedule, we’re on time. It’s great to see everyone working so hard to get this project finished.
“We’re very proud that 93.3% of schools in Northumberland are rated good or outstanding by Ofsted. We’re investing in school facilities across the county so that our young people can have the very best start possible.”
