Construction has officially begun on a new 630-place primary school set to serve the growing Haywood Village community in Weston-super-Mare, as developer Persimmon Homes Severn Valley appoints Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd to deliver the project.

The new Airfield Primary Academy, scheduled to open in September 2026, will provide much-needed education provision on the site of the former Weston Airfield. It is the second school being developed by Persimmon as part of the wider Haywood Village masterplan, which will ultimately deliver 2,500 new homes, two primary schools, and a local centre.

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Designed to accommodate three forms of entry, the T-shaped school building will feature 21 classrooms, a 103-place nursery, a school hall, kitchen and staff facilities, along with a community hub offering studios and changing rooms. Sustainability is a key focus, with the school set to include solar panels and air-source heat pumps for energy efficiency.

In keeping with the site's environmental goals, the surrounding development will feature wildflower areas, insect hotels, beehive potential, and log-based habitats to support biodiversity.

The Cabot Learning Federation (CLF) has been selected to run the new school and was instrumental in choosing the name Airfield Primary Academy, paying tribute to Weston’s aviation heritage. The CLF already operates six schools in the town, all rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted.

The school secured formal planning permission in September, with construction guided by specifications from both CLF and North Somerset Council.