Willmott Dixon has been appointed for a £15m contract to build a free school that will be the first to allow pupils to board.

Holyport College in Berkshire will be an all-ability co-educational day and boarding school for students aged 11 to 19 years when it opens in September 2014. When full, 225 of the 500 pupils will be boarders, with top independent school Eton College adding its expertise as sole educational sponsor.

Procured through Scape, a national framework enabling the public sector to procure construction quickly and more efficiently, Willmott Dixon will start building work this month to create the College on the site of a former special needs school in Ascot Road in Holyport. The scope of the project will see the company demolish some of the existing buildings and replace them with new teaching and living accommodation.


As one of the largest free schools to be given the green-light, entry at Holyport College will be in both Years 7 and 9 and the school will include a Sixth Form. Eton College will take a lead role on the Governing Body, helping to shape the school ready for opening next year, with the school also able to use some of Eton's facilities, particularly for sport.

John Waterman, managing director for Willmott Dixon in the southern Home Counties, said: "This is a very exciting development for the whole free school movement and one we are delighted to be helping make happen. The site team are working closely with the College to ensure their requirements and needs are delivered on this unique project. As with all our projects, we'll use local companies wherever possible, to ensure we can sustain jobs and help the local economy prosper from having such a prestigious College built in their region. We have a reputation as a considerate builder and will endeavour to minimise disruption for those who live, work and use the roads near the site."

(CD/JP)