Morgan Sindall Construction's Cardiff and Bristol team has completed the £11.7 million expansion and upgrade of Abbeywood Community School in Stoke Gifford, handing over the new Olympus Building after finishing initial refurbishment works in spring 2025.

The facility will be in use immediately after the February half‑term, enabling the school to grow to 1,500 pupils in response to local demand. A formal handover on 06 February brought together representatives from the Olympus Academy Trust, South Gloucestershire Council, Morgan Sindall Construction, Pick Everard and NVB Architects.

Procured by South Gloucestershire Council through the SCAPE Construction framework to drive programme and cost certainty, the first phase comprised extending the dance studio, refurbishing and decarbonising the kitchen, and reconfiguring changing rooms. Phase two delivered the Olympus Building with 10 classrooms, dedicated office space, a staff working room, and improved welfare and accessibility facilities.

External works included extending the car park to add 10 spaces, two of which feature EV charging, and installing a lift to better support pupils with special educational needs. Working on a live school site, Morgan Sindall coordinated access and sequencing with the school to minimise disruption and installed a temporary four‑classroom block to maintain teaching. The scheme achieved a perfect 45/45 score from the Considerate Constructors Scheme.

Sustainability measures include rooftop photovoltaic panels and air source heat pumps to reduce operational carbon and reliance on fossil fuels. Through its 10 Tonne Challenge, the project cut construction-related emissions by 148 tCO2e using electric arc furnace steel, timber waste recycling with Community Wood, and reusing concrete hoarding blocks from another Morgan Sindall scheme. Measured with CarboniCa, developed by Morgan Sindall Group and Once For All, this is equivalent to heating 55 UK homes for a year.

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In a sector first for the company, Morgan Sindall piloted one of the construction industry's earliest zero-waste plasterboard programmes with British Gypsum, pre‑cutting, weighing and monitoring boards off‑site to reduce waste and increase efficiency. Digital delivery was supported by Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) for planning accuracy, detailed design coordination and clash detection before work began on site.

The project delivered strong social value outcomes. Morgan Sindall engaged with students at Abbeywood Community School and South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (SGS) through careers events, and supported a Women in Construction event at SGS College's Filton Campus. Three local students joined the site team for work experience, and a plumbing student from South Gloucestershire College was placed with M&E contractor Keyplan Engineering. Nearly £6 million of spend went through SMEs, with £4.3 million awarded to suppliers within 20 miles of the site.

Rob Williams, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in Cardiff and Bristol, said: "We're all so proud to have handed over the expanded Abbeywood Community School, which will provide outstanding facilities for pupils, staff, and the wider community for many years to come. Delivering works within a live school environment requires close collaboration, and I'd like to thank Abbeywood Community School and South Gloucestershire Council for their continued cooperation and support throughout works to bring this project to life."

Williams added: "It's been a true privilege to play a part in supporting education in the region and leaving a positive, lasting legacy for the local community."

South Gloucestershire Council Cabinet Member for Schools, Councillor Ian Boulton, said: "I am thrilled that this project is now complete and these improvements to the school will be enjoyed by staff and pupils alike for years to come."

He continued: "We have invested almost £12 million in this project, and in other parts of the district we have been able to get projects that had stalled underway. We don't just want to talk about the future for our children in South Gloucestershire, we want to help build it. Better school buildings and catering for growing pupil numbers is a key part of that mission."

Claire Moloney-Banks, Interim CEO of The Olympus Academy Trust, said: "Abbeywood Community School continues to grow at the heart of our community. Designed for 180 students per year group, we have expanded and now welcome 240 students annually. To support this growth and uphold our high standards, significant investment in our facilities has been welcomed."

She added: "I am delighted to announce the opening of the new Olympus Building, a modern ten‑classroom block funded by South Gloucestershire Council. Alongside our enhanced catering, changing and drama spaces, this state-of-the-art building strengthens our provision and ensures we continue to offer a first‑class learning experience. Together with our main school and the Engineering Centre, the Olympus Building positions us to serve our community with excellence for many years to come."

Andrew Paines, Associate of Cost Management at Pick Everard, said: "This has been a fantastic project to be part of, and the positive reaction from pupils and staff to the new Olympus building has been very rewarding. The extra classrooms and improved facilities will make a real difference to the school as it grows to meet demand in the area."