Mansell has won a £6 million contract to build a new school in Southampton for Southampton Council.

The new Newlands Primary School has been procured through the Improvement and Efficiency South East (IESE) Framework.

The new school building will be built on the existing school site. It will comprise a one-storey building providing 14 classrooms including extensive early years provision, a multi-use hall, flexible spaces for drama, music, small group learning, art and food technology together with a multi media studio where pupils use green screen technology to make their own films and broadcasts. There will also be a staff room, offices and a production kitchen set around a central courtyard. The new grounds will enable learning to happen beyond the class room with growing areas, science and investigation spaces, a wildlife area where children can pond dip and observe life cycles and a multi use games area.

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Once completed the existing school will decant to the new facility and the old school will be demolished to create sports pitches, investigation and relaxation areas, an amphitheatre and an all weather multi-use games area.

The project will include photovoltaic cells to generate energy which will help to achieve a BREEAM rating of 'Very Good'.

An employment and skills plan will offer apprenticeships through Mansell's supply chain and will, whenever possible, provide employment for local people. Newlands Primary School pupils will be encouraged to attend construction taster events and site visits.

Headteacher, Lou Stapleton, said: "This is a very exciting time for Newlands Primary School. The new building will be a truly inspiring environment for pupils and staff. Pupils have been included in the project from the start and have enjoyed contributing to the overall designs. They have been consulted on the layout and facilities of a mock up classroom and made suggestions which were incorporated into the finished plans.'We are particularly pleased that the new design has incorporated our wish for ICT to be an integral part of the curriculum and pupils will be able to access IT and use laptops, notebooks and i-pads wherever they are on the school site."

(CD)