Expansion work at Melton secondary school ahead of schedule

Builders started work at the Ambleside Way secondary school in November to start the first phase, which will see a large new building constructed to host 10 new classrooms and enable 300 extra students to be taught at the school.

The new building will also house a 260-seat theatre, drama studio, an intervention area, a ‘sky-lit’ art department and new spaces for music and textiles studies.

The second phase will see a major enhancement of the existing older building to include three new science labs, a brand new design and technology workshop. a new prep room, a makeover of the canteen and a new food room.

Long Field principal, Chris Haggett, told the Melton Times: “The project is actually ahead of schedule, and the concrete foundations went in over half-term.

“The steel arrives at the end of March so by the end of the Easter holidays you will be able to see the how big the building is going to be.

“The main new build is finished by Easter 2027 and then all the refurbishments in the existing buildings are finished in Summer 2027.”

The school currently teaches more than 900 students aged 11 to 16 but with thousands more houses being built in the town it needs a larger capacity.

The new two-storey teaching block will take capacity up to 1,200, with the extra pupils being phased in over a period of years to give the school time to adapt.

An increase in the number of parking spaces will be provided through the development, rising from 85 to 117.

And new sports pitches will also replace the grass area that will be lost to the new building.

The building work has interested students and staff, alike, as the new structure begins to take shape.

Mr Haggett added: “The students have just been fascinated with the work and they have been asking the builders lots of questions.

“The builders have been great at answering all the questions.

“Once the steel is up they are doing daily tours with the students.”