A ceremony marking the beginning of construction for Astley Community High School and Whytrig Middle School was held recently. This project, part of the council’s investment in school facilities, is intended to revolutionize education options for young people in Seaton Valley for decades to come. Both schools will be rebuilt on a new shared campus and BAM Construction has been contracted to deliver the £50m project, which will open to over 1,000 students in September 2025. Furthermore, sports facilities such as a swimming pool, fitness studio, and 3G pitch will be available for use by the wider community.
The schools’ new modern look was designed by Ryder Architecture and will be net zero carbon in operation to ensure that running costs are minimized, freeing up more resources for teaching and learning. Responding to the project, Cllr Guy Renner-Thompson, Cabinet member for Inspiring Young People, stated that this project will bring substantial benefits to education, health, and well-being in Seaton Valley. One of the students, Lewis, described the site as fantastic and said that he is looking forward to having more extensive areas to learn and play sports.
John Barnes, the Executive Headteacher of Seaton Valley Federation, expressed excitement at the size of the project and the opportunities it would unlock. Finally, Tony Fitzgerald, the Construction Director of BAM, commented that the company is proud to be part of such a vast project and includes extensive sports facilities.
Overall, this project represents a considerable investment in the future of young people in the region. In addition, it also shows that the council is committed to the well-being and prosperity of the wider community.
