Construction firm completes handover of £2.6m sports centre in Rotherham

Wildgoose Construction has handed over a new multi-million pound sports complex to a South Yorkshire secondary academy.

Named the Ian Burton Sports Centre, the new facility at Brinsworth Academy in Rotherham provides a new multi-use sports hall, dance studio, fully accessible changing rooms and classrooms for GSCE and A-level PE.

The £2.6m centre has been named after Ian Burton who began as a teacher and went on to lead PE and Outdoor Education during his 36 years at the school.

Ian’s wife Jean officially opened the sports centre. Ian and Jean’s daughters, Hannah and Vicky, and Ian’s brothers, Stephen and Wayne, were able to attend the ceremony.

They were joined by project team members from Wildgoose Construction, Brinsworth’s staff and pupils to mark the facility’s opening.

As part of the contract, Wildgoose also demolished the old 1970s sports facility and landscaped the area, creating a new tennis courts and outdoor sports areas.

Jonathan Wildgoose, executive chairman of Wildgoose Construction, said: “We’re delighted to have led this project and delivered it to a high standard and on time. Education is a very important sector for us as a company and we were very pleased to have been awarded the contract in a region we are very familiar with.

“It makes it even more special that the finished centre has been named after a teacher who was clearly much loved and dedicated to the school.

“We believe that it is a fitting memorial to Mr Burton and we hope that students and staff enjoy the centre for many years to come.”

The project was funded by the Department for Education’s Priority School Buildings Plan.