Morgan Sindall Construction has developed a £5 million two-storey teaching block at Horsforth School in Leeds.

Accommodating 365 new students, the completed expansion reflects an urgent need for extra places in response to ongoing housebuilding in the LS18 postcode.

To celebrate, a ribbon-cutting event was held to mark the completion of the project inside the new build, attended by representatives from Morgan Sindall Construction, Horsforth School, Pagabo and Leeds City Council.

The school, which is popular and oversubscribed, will now be able to offer spaces for 65 sixth formers, taking the school's capacity to 1,765 and enabling the creation of a further 20 full-time jobs.

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The 1,658 sq m building includes computer rooms, science labs, a library and classrooms, as well as a new school entrance on the south of the site together with new sport facilities and 20 parking spaces. Built on the previously existing tennis courts, four new courts have also been built to replace them.

As a part of the project, procured through Pagabo's Medium Works Framework, Morgan Sindall Construction also delivered a social value plan that saw it liaise with local organisations to deliver targeted programmes that address the city’s key educational, employment and social requirements.

Joining forces with Leeds City Council, consultant partners and Leeds further education providers, Morgan Sindall Construction worked to raise aspirations and professional career attainment among local care leavers with work placements in management roles and career coaching.

Ensuring the students remain at the heart of the works, sessions were held at Horsforth School and other local education institutions in order to demonstrate the many new rewarding career paths within construction.

During the installation of the steel frame back in October, students from Horsforth School were invited to take part in a steel sighing ceremony, and observe the progression of their new teaching block.