Morgan Sindall Construction's Yorkshire business has officially handed over the redeveloped Carleton High School in Pontefract, Wakefield, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by local MP and Foreign Secretary, the Rt Hon Yvette Cooper.

Appointed by the Department for Education (DfE) to deliver the scheme on behalf of Pontefract Academies Trust, Morgan Sindall has completed the part redevelopment of the school through the government’s School Rebuilding Programme.

The multi-million project includes a new three-storey teaching block, two external canopies, refurbishment of the existing sports hall, reconfigured outdoor sports provision and the installation of a new multi-use games area (MUGA). Photovoltaic panels and extensive landscaping have also been delivered as part of the works.

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At the handover event, speeches were given by Julian Appleyard OBE, CEO of Pontefract Academies Trust, Head Teacher Mrs Shaheen Shariff, and members of Morgan Sindall's Yorkshire team.

Ben Hall, Area Director for Morgan Sindall’s Yorkshire Business, said: "We are incredibly proud to have delivered this outstanding new facility for the DfE and Pontefract Academies Trust.

"From the outset, our focus has been on creating a high-quality, sustainable learning environment that will serve students and the wider community for many years to come. Today’s handover marks the culmination of a real team effort, and we are delighted to see the school open its doors to its first cohort of pupils."

The new building provides modern classrooms, science laboratories, creative technology spaces, and high-spec computing suites. Constructed on the site of the school’s existing tennis courts, the scheme was designed to minimise disruption for pupils and staff.

The project incorporates Morgan Sindall's Intelligent Solutions approach, using digital and platform design alongside modern methods of construction and carbon reduction tools. As part of the DfE's School Rebuilding Programme, the new facility is Net Zero Carbon in Operation (NZCiO) and includes air source heat pumps, photovoltaic panels, and a biosolar green roof.