We can start to picture how the new school will look.
Don O'Neill
The green light has been given to re-build The Avon Valley School in Rugby following the appointment of the preferred contractors for the project.
Miller Construction will start work clearing the site of the old school in Newbold Road during the summer holidays in preparation for building work to start by end of the year.
They were appointed as preferred contractors by Warwickshire County Council’s Cabinet last week.
The decision follows detailed consultation with the schools’ governing body and other stakeholders and with the Area Committee of the County Council.
The cost of the project will be around £17.7m. The school is expected to open in September 2007.
Avon Valley was destroyed in a fire in June 2004. The school has operated this year in a number of temporary buildings. The new building will sweep in a crescent incorporating the two buildings that survived the fire.
The school specialises in the Performing Arts and so the design for the new building includes indoor and outside theatre space, and a range of modern facilities – all of which will benefit the local community.
There will be a number of innovative energy efficiency measures and traditional building materials will be used. The school will also be fully equipped with fire sprinklers.
Cllr John Burton, cabinet member for Schools, said: “The scheme proposed by Miller was felt to be exciting and would deliver a building which provided value for money. It meets all the requirements for a school in the twenty-first century with enhanced provision to ensure sustainability, security, reduce fire risks and provide benefits for the local community. I am delighted that the children, staff and governing body of Avon Valley can look forward to having a state of the art building in the next two years.”
Eric Wood, County Education Officer, said: “Avon Valley has been through a difficult time but everyone in the school has responded to these difficulties and can now look forward to an exciting time. There will be some disruption in the coming months but people in the community will soon have a facility to be proud of as the new school rises from the ashes of the old.”
Acting headteacher Don O’Neill said: “The designs that were submitted by Miller Construction have caused an enormous amount of excitement in the school. We can start to picture how the new school will look and we are certain it will be a building that will allow us to offer an even better education to the children of the area. There is still a lot to be done but we can see the beginning of the end of this difficult spell for Avon Valley.”