Construction of new sixth form and teaching facilities at Abbeyfield School in Chippenham is getting underway this week as part of a £9.5 million expansion designed to create places for hundreds of additional pupils.
Work is beginning on the first phase of a major expansion of Abbeyfield School, which will eventually provide additional teaching space for up to 450 pupils and 39 staff.
Wiltshire Council is investing £9.5 million in the scheme, which will be delivered in three phases as the demand for secondary school places in Chippenham grows.
Abbeyfield School currently has around 900 pupils aged 11 to 16, alongside 171 post-16 students.
The first phase is due to provide capacity for up to 150 additional pupils from September 2027.
It will include a new hall and performance space, a post-16 area, five classrooms and toilets.
Further phases will be dependent on the pace of new housing development in Chippenham.
The completed development will include a new two-storey teaching building, with later phases providing a further six classrooms and four science laboratories, followed by two art rooms, three design and technology rooms and three additional classrooms.
The plans also include additional parking spaces, a new covered cycle store and a staff and visitor car park.
Off-site infrastructure improvements are also planned to support safe and accessible journeys to and from the school.
Morgan Sindall Construction has been appointed as the main contractor.
Cllr Jon Hubbard, Cabinet Member for Education, said the expansion was “a vital investment for Chippenham's future”, adding that it would help provide school places where they were needed and create a modern learning environment for pupils.
Abbeyfield School Headteacher Nick Norgrove said the start of construction was “a truly exciting moment for our school community”.
He said the new sixth form building and performance hall would provide facilities to support pupils academically and creatively, adding that the project would also give students opportunities to learn more about careers in construction and develop workplace skills.
The construction work will also include engagement opportunities for pupils, with Morgan Sindall planning activities to introduce young people to careers and employment opportunities within the construction industry.
According to Morgan Sindall, preparatory work has already included clearing the site and relocating slow worms, grass snakes and orchids.
The company said it was looking forward to working with schools in the local area to provide further employer engagement opportunities.
The first phase of the Abbeyfield expansion is expected to be completed in time for the additional pupil capacity to become available from September 2027.
Image courtesy of NVB Architects
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