Oak Grange Primary School
Location: Boulton Moor, Derby
Client: Derby City Council
Framework: SCAPE Construction
Project value: £9m
Scheduled completion date: August 2023
“It’s wonderful to see Oak Grange Primary School reach this exciting milestone. The school will be at the heart of this new neighbourhood, becoming a hub not just for the children but the wider community.”
Councillor Evonne Williams
Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Skills at Derby City Council
The addition of 990 new homes within the Snelsmoor Grange and Fellow Lands Way housing developments of Derby is set to increase demand for primary school places in the area.
Part-funded through Section 106 contributions from housing developer, Belway Homes, Derby City Council therefore approved the construction of a modern and spacious 1.5 Form Entry (FE) school to cater for 315 primary and 39 nursery children.
As part of the Derby Schools Programme, Oak Grange Primary School is now the fifth school Morgan Sindall has delivered for Derby City Council via SCAPE, in partnership with Lungfish Architects as the principal designer.
Procured through the SCAPE Regional Construction framework, Morgan Sindall Construction commenced construction in August 2022, and it is currently on track to complete on time and budget by August 2023, ready for the new academic year.
It was important that the new school formed the heart of the new housing estates, with the local community and social groups able to use the facilities at evenings and weekends.
Richard Fielding, area director for Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “This project is particularly exciting as it hasn't just been designed with pupils in mind, but for the whole community to utilise at evenings and weekends too. This will make it a real focal point for the area when it opens later this year. It’s a place we hope all local residents can enjoy.”
Morgan Sindall Construction has worked closely with Lungfish Architects to ensure the school design remains in keeping with the surrounding rural landscape, whilst also referencing its agricultural past.
This was achieved by prioritising the building’s elevations, with massing and roof lines identifying three key gabled ‘barns’. Glazed links have been used to provide daylit to the corridors and connections to the natural world within the core of the school. The rural appearance is also reflected by the use of metal cladding, timber and render external cladding, with deep window reveals and feature windows.
Headteacher designate Sarah Coleman said: “It’s very exciting to see the school building coming together. Walking through corridors and into classrooms makes Oak Grange Primary School very real. We can imagine the children playing, learning and growing and it will be an absolute privilege to be with them at the start of their journey in September.”
In line with both framework targets and the client’s own sustainability aspirations, Morgan Sindall’s Intelligent Solutions approach has significantly reduced the amount of carbon emissions throughout the build process. The team mobilised its 10 Tonne Carbon Challenge to save 14.78 tonnes of carbon dioxide through alternative construction methods - this is the equivalent of heating five homes annually.
It also looked to have a positive and meaningful impact on the local area with the site team striving to achieve a spend of 40% within 20 miles. Whilst offsite, the team volunteered a total of 96 hours with various charities and also helped organise an event that raised £2,100 for the nearby Packington Cricket Club.
We are now approaching 1,700 school places delivered for Derby City Council within the last four years. Lungfish Architects is thrilled to be working closely again with the council and Morgan Sindall to provide vital school places for a growing local community."
Nathan Webb
Project Architect at Lungfish Architects
Nathan continues;
"Sitting unobtrusively within the landscape, Oak Grange is an example of a rural school with links back to an agricultural past. The wealth of natural light, materials and colour palette creates an inspiring learning environment that is well connected to the world outside.”
East Midlands Education Trust, a partnership of 22 high-performing schools in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, has been chosen to open the school. Oak Grange Primary will build pupil numbers incrementally, increasing by one year group each year. When it opens in September, admissions will be for Nursery and Reception children only.
The school will then increase in size gradually each academic year until it reaches its capacity of 315 pupils, aged from 4 to 11 years, in September 2029.
The Trust is delighted to be working so closely with Derby City Council on the creation of this new school for the Boulton Moor community. We are all looking forward to welcoming our first cohort of children into the school next year and we are determined to ensure they have a wonderful time with us as well as the very best possible education.”
Rob McDonough
Chief Executive of East Midlands Education Trust
14.78 tonnes
of carbon dioxide saved
340+
new school places
40% spend
within 20 miles
In collaboration with:
Project gallery
Oak Grange Primary School entrance CGI
Aerial CGI of Oak Grange Primary School
The project team at the new school's Topping Out ceremony
Drone photo of progress at Oak Grange Primary School, March 2023
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