Galliford Try awarded contract for Newcastle school

Topic Contracts, Education

Date 02 Apr 2024

Galliford Try has been awarded a contract to build the permanent accommodation for Great Park Academy, a 1,200-place secondary school in Gosforth, Newcastle.

The Department for Education scheme, which will be run by the Gosforth Group Academy Trust, will deliver a three-storey new build with a suite of special educational needs and disabilities support spaces. 

Great Park Academy will include diverse, flexible, and functional teaching spaces including sports, music, art, and drama facilities, a learning resource centre, and a sports hall with its own dedicated community entrance. 

The project will see the enhancement of the existing soft landscaping and the creation of both hard and soft informal landscaping, a dedicated play area for key stage two students, and external learning spaces, including a multi-use games area.

Cliff Wheatley, Managing Director of Galliford Try Building North East and Yorkshire, said: “We're looking forward to delivering facilities that will benefit Great Park students for generations to come. During our time on site, we’ll also provide important work experience for young people in the area and support those interested in a career in construction.”

George Snaith, Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Gosforth Group, added:
“I am delighted that Galliford Try is taking on this important and much-needed school-building project. 

“Great Park Academy is already well-established in its temporary home, and I am confident that it will go from strength to strength when it occupies its new home next year.”

Work is scheduled to complete by summer 2025, ready for the school to open its doors at the start of the new academic year in September 2025.