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Milestone for £12 million Bradford Academy

Construction of the new £12 million Bradford Forster Academy reached a significant milestone this week as the school’s newly appointed Principal joined contractor, Wates, to install the final bolt in the building’s steel frame.

Coming just three months after construction work began, the event marks the significant progress made on site where Wates is building the new 1,050-capacity, seven-form entry school for students aged 11 to 16 years.

The project, which is being managed by Integrated Bradford LEP and City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, is expected to reach completion in time for the new school year in 2015.

Completion of the steel frame marks the installation of 320 tonnes of steelwork, equating to 1,237 beams and columns, 9,820 bolts and enough linear metres of welded steel to stretch for three miles.

The steel construction has been provided by Barnsley-based Compass Engineering.

Coinciding with the building landmark, this month also saw the Academy open for business with the launch of the admissions process for 2015.

David Price, business unit director, Wates Construction, Yorkshire, commented: “As intended, we are making very swift progress on the construction of the new Bradford Forster Academy and we have now reached a point where the building will really start to take shape.

“There is a real excitement growing for this brand new facility and we’re privileged to welcome the new principals to site to show them the hard work and expertise that is being invested in their new school.”

Diane Pickering, Academy principal at Bradford Forster Academy, commented: “I am delighted to be part of this exciting new education offer coming to the City of Bradford in 2015.

“The completion of the building and launch of the admissions process for our pupils are the next two positive steps in the school’s journey towards opening.”

Garry McDonald, senior project manager, Integrated Bradford LEP, said: “It is a fantastic achievement from the entire project team to reach such a pivotal milestone within such a short timescale.

“We look forward to the successful completion of this school project and the benefits that this will bring to the wider community as a whole.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .