£2.1 million Shropshire school project to get underway

Adcote School is in the middle of a five-year project to create new classrooms, science laboratories, catering facilities, a sports hall and two boarding houses at its site in Little Ness, near Shrewsbury.

Work is now set to begin on the next phase of the project which will see new en-suite accommodation for up to 80 girls and two matrons built as well as facilities for sixth form students and teachers.

School headmaster Gary Wright said the modernisation and investment project is the most significant development in Adcote's 107-year history.

He said: "With our continuing growth in numbers and strong reputation, these are undoubtedly exciting times for Adcote School. We are constantly seeking ways in which we can improve the school and build one that is fit for the future.

"Everyone who is involved with the Adcote community is both excited and inspired to see the development taking shape and seeing these facilities brought to life by Morris Property."

Mr Wright said that despite the recession, the pupil roll has more than doubled in the last four years.

He said: "The increase in pupils has resulted in the generation of a small financial surplus allowing us to reinvest in the school.

"For this academic year the school has over 270 pupils on roll, with around 130 boarders, but our projections show that our pupil numbers will continue to increase in future years.

"Recruitment continues to be very strong and we believe that we can and should take the pupil roll to around 450, with 280 boarders, by 2018 without harm to our ethos."

The new buildings will be built by Morris Property.

Ian Galliers, chief executive at Morris Property, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to be continuing this development at Adcote School. We are pleased with the results so far and next stage of the project will build on the strong and long standing partnership we have with the school."

Last summer the school spent £2m on a new 50-bed boarding house, Aston Hall, and a classroom block including a science centre with state-of-the-art laboratories.

The dining room, the Darby Restaurant, has also been extended and a new sports hall was opened in October.