Students have returned to the revamped Dixons Newall Green Academy in Wythenshawe after Morgan Sindall Construction completed the free school project.

Run by Dixons Academies Trust and situated on Greenbrow Road, Manchester, the academy will ultimately provide 750 places for pupils aged 11 to 16. An initial cohort of 140 Year 7 pupils began lessons in temporary accommodation in September 2023, with a further intake supported by additional temporary facilities in 2024.

With the new permanent buildings now open, the temporary units have been removed, enabling the remaining external areas to be finished over the coming months.

The programme included demolishing three school blocks, fully refurbishing a retained block, and delivering two new extensions: a two-storey classroom building and a single-storey sports hall with associated facilities along Clay Lane.

Throughout delivery, Morgan Sindall Construction worked closely with the Department for Education to ensure a cost-efficient, pragmatic approach that minimised disruption. Demolition was timed for school holidays, while noise, dust and vibration monitoring protected nearby residents and the adjacent SEND school.

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Sustainability and community benefits included: 0.21 tonnes of carbon saved through a partnership with Rhodar and Recofloor, which enabled salvaged vinyl flooring to be recycled by manufacturers Altro and Polyflor; the use of 63% Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steel in the extension, saving 345 tonnes of CO2 equivalent; donation of 220 metres of surplus timber to Green Start, a skills programme run by Groundwork in partnership with Forest Bank Prison, providing hands-on construction training; and selective reuse of existing materials, including salvaged aluminium sheeting.

The design emphasises adaptability and efficiency, supporting the school’s curriculum and organisational model while retaining aspects of the DfE’s standardised approach.

Steven Gregory, North West Area Director at Morgan Sindall Construction, said: "We are incredibly proud to have delivered Dixons Newall Green Academy, which will provide a high-quality learning environment for young people in Wythenshawe for years to come.

"This project has been about more than just constructing new buildings - it has been about working hand-in-hand with the Department for Education, the Trust, and the local community to create a sustainable, modern facility while being sensitive to our neighbours and the environment. I am particularly pleased with the team's innovative approach to reuse and recycling, and the social value initiatives that mean the benefits of this project extend far beyond the school gates."

Elsewhere in Greater Manchester, Morgan Sindall has recently completed Pear Tree Academy, a new SEND school in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport. The contractor is currently on site at Star Radcliffe Academy in Bury and Newhouse Academy in Rochdale, and will shortly begin work on primary schools in Liverpool and the Wirral.