GRAHAM has celebrated the topping out of Oasis Academy Temple Quarter, a new state-of-the-art secondary school being built in Bristol.

The occasion was commemorated on 17 June at the Silverthorne Lane site, where Richard James, Principal of Oasis Academy Temple Quarter, joined six pupils and three Department for Education representatives to each sign an engraved plaque. All ten plaques were set into the concrete foundations, creating a permanent record within the new building.

Led by the Department for Education, the project will deliver a mainstream high school in the heart of the Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone, serving communities across East and Central Bristol.

Designed to accommodate 1,600 pupils, the scheme comprises a contemporary main school building alongside the refurbishment of a smaller listed building to create a new sports hall.

Construction began in September 2025, with the permanent academy building scheduled to open in September 2027.

On completion, the school will offer an inspiring learning environment, blending specialist teaching spaces with facilities that support student wellbeing.

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The academy is part of the wider Bristol Temple Quarter masterplan, one of the UK's largest regeneration programmes, which is bringing new residential, commercial, research and student accommodation to the surrounding area.

Peter Reavey, Regional Director at GRAHAM, said: "Topping out is always a proud moment for everyone involved, and it's fantastic to get stakeholders together to celebrate the progress made so far.

"Since breaking ground last year, our team has worked tirelessly to deliver a quality building that facilitates learning and development, as well as wellbeing and safeguarding.

"When the academy opens its doors in 2027, it will give generations of young people in Bristol access to an outstanding learning environment, and this is something we are truly proud to be part of."

Speaking at the ceremony, Principal of Oasis Academy Temple Quarter, Richard James, reflected on the significance of the milestone: "In the Oasis 2030 vision, we talk about reimagining ceilings not as limits, but as the floors on which future generations will stand. So, although today marks a topping out ceremony, it feels far more like the beginning than the end. Completing this stage of the build brings us one step closer to a state-of-the-art academy that will act as a bridge between our community and the wider city.

"Standing on the fourth floor, it's impossible not to be inspired by the views across Bristol, from the new university campus to the growing innovation of the Temple Quarter. Our next task is to turn those views into real opportunities: partnerships, experiences and pathways that connect our students, families and community to the developments happening on our doorstep. This building represents possibility, and we are excited for what it will unlock for the generations to come."