First spade in the ground as multi-million pound Leyland school rebuild begins
Wellfield Academy, which is part of the Endeavour Learning Trust, is being totally rebuilt from the ground up, with most of the old buildings being demolished once the new school is built.
The new school, which will be built in the grounds of the existing Wellfield Academy, will create a state-of-the-art educational facility for the children of Leyland to receive the best education possible. The new school is due to open in late Autumn 2027, following the completion of Phase 1.
As the new buildings are being built around the existing school, children will continue to learn undisrupted as normal in the existing buildings whilst construction is underway.
The new buildings will use timber frames in their construction to minimise carbon and will be designed to have enhanced thermal performance to minimise energy demand.
There will be ultra-low carbon and renewable energy solutions, including ground source heat pumps and solar panels on the roofs.
The existing car park within the site will be expanded and redesigned and will benefit from the installation of electric vehicle charging points. A new cycle shelter will also be installed with an increased capacity.
Jamie Lewis, headteacher at Wellfield, commented: “This is yet another exciting milestone and it was great to see the first spade in the ground as construction begins.
“When completed, our school will be the most modern, best equipped school in the area and we’re excited about what this will mean for your young people and generations to come.
“We look forward to welcoming pupils and families to our new school next year.”
There will be no change to the school capacity as a result of the redevelopment.
The redevelopment of Wellfield Academy is being delivered by the Department for Education (DfE) as part of their School Rebuilding Programme. Kier Construction has been selected to design and build the new school.
Sarah Morton, regional director for Kier Construction North & Scotland, said: “We are proud to be delivering Wellfield Academy, a landmark GenZero project that will help define the future of sustainable school design.
“GenZero is about more than reducing carbon - it is about rethinking how schools are designed, built and operated to create highly efficient, future-ready environments. By combining low carbon materials such as mass timber with advanced energy systems and modern methods of construction, this project will set a new benchmark for education buildings.
“Drawing on our experience delivering high-quality schools, we look forward to creating an inspiring learning environment for students and staff, while leaving a lasting positive impact on the local community.”