Growing ambition – work begins on £4.2 million Nether Stowe School expansion

Work to expand a popular Lichfield secondary school has now started on site.

ATLP’s Nether Stowe School will be expanded to cope with an increased demand for school places in the area.

The £4.2 million project will see the front of the school extended to provide a new reception, extra classroom space and a brand new sixth form area, along with construction of a new, larger state-of-the-art sports hall.

Works will be completed by September 2021, and this is being done in two phases. Phase 1 has already seen the demolition of the old youth centre on site, and work has now started on the construction of the reception area and additional classrooms.

Phase 2 will see construction of the brand-new sports hall, and is expected to begin in July 2020.

The facilities will be built by contractors Novus, on behalf of Staffordshire County Council and the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership (ATLP). The architects are Entrust.

County Councillor Philip White, cabinet member for skills and further learning, said:

New housing in and around the city means that there will be increased demand for secondary school places in the area. With the newly remodelled reception area, new classrooms, sports hall and Sixth Form, Nether Stowe School will be able to welcome 150 more 11 to 16 year olds plus some additional sixth form pupils, once the project is complete. Construction will take place over a year to minimise disruption to teachers and pupils as much as possible, with the new facilities opening in September 2021.”

Head teacher of Nether Stowe School, Glyn Langston-Jones, said:

We’re delighted to be working alongside Staffordshire County Council on this ambitious project. I’m proud of all we have achieved at Nether Stowe and excited about the future. This expansion will give even more children the opportunity to join us and receive a quality education. We are looking forward to welcoming new students into our growing school community as we take another step nearer to seeing our vision come to life.”

Dean Povey, build senior operations manager at Novus, said:

We know how important the facilities on offer at schools are to young people’s education experience and we take our role in delivering them to the highest standards very seriously. We’re looking forward to getting started on this project and our experience in the education sector will stand us in good stead. We’re confident everyone involved with Nether Stowe School will be proud of the project for years to come once completed.”