A groundbreaking ceremony has recently marked the start of a £5.5 million extension project at Thorp Academy in Ryton, Gateshead.

The development, aimed at accommodating the growing student population, is being delivered by Morgan Sindall Construction on behalf of the Northern Education Trust (NET) through the SCAPE Construction Framework.

The expansion will add 10 new classrooms, significantly increasing the academy's capacity. Key figures from Morgan Sindall, including Project Manager Fran McGrath, North East and Cumbria Area Director Alex Isted, and Gary Lee, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, were joined by Russell Baxter, Executive Director of Estates and Risk at NET, as well as representatives from Thorp Academy, to commemorate the occasion with a symbolic ‘spade-in-the-ground’ photo.

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The new two-storey facility is scheduled to be completed by December 2025 and will be ready for use by the 2026 spring term. In addition to the new classrooms, the extension will feature a new dining hall, expanded toilet facilities, additional office and storage spaces, and a plant room, enhancing the overall amenities at the academy.

Joanna Macaulay, Principal at Thorp Academy, said: "This development will be so beneficial for our students, and we're all excited to see the finished facilities next year."

Alex Isted, Morgan Sindall's North East and Cumbria Area Director, said: "Across the region, we are seeing a sharp rise in schools requiring additional space to accommodate growing student numbers. Having already applied our expertise to Callerton Academy in Newcastle, we are once again pleased to contribute to expanding the excellent facilities at Thorp Academy, and to increasing their offering so that students may attain the highest levels of education possible now, and in future generations."