Partner Article

Topping out milestone celebrated at Greenfield Academy in Newton Aycliffe

Another key milestone has been marked at Greenfield Academy in Newton Aycliffe as Esh Construction celebrated the topping out of the academy’s new three‑storey teaching block.

Representatives from the Advanced Learning Partnership Multi Academy Trust, Durham County Council, Atkins Realis, staff and pupils joined Esh’s project team to mark progress on the multi-million pound development, which is delivering a modern education hub alongside enhanced sports and community facilities.

Durham County Council is helping to fund the new education hub and updated facilities alongside the Multi Academy Trust, with provision ultimately for up to 750 students.

As the Academy’s new three-storey block reaches its peak, Esh Construction is also working on a sports centre extension and refurbishment of the existing school facilities.

Grant Watson, Construction Director at Esh Construction, said: “Reaching topping out at Greenfield Academy is a significant moment for the project and a real testament to the collaboration between the academy, Durham County Council and our project teams. With the building envelope now largely complete, we’re making strong progress internally and looking ahead to the next phases of fit‑out and external works that will bring these new facilities to life.”

The new three‑storey teaching block is now structurally complete, with the roof fully installed and tested, brickwork nearing completion and the windows fully glazed, creating a secure and weather‑tight building. Internally, works are progressing across all three floors, with partitions formed and classrooms taking shape, while initial mechanical and electrical works, including containment, pipework and cabling, are well underway.

Once complete, the new teaching block will provide 19 classrooms, and specialist subject hubs for IT, art, design & technology and science. Meanwhile, brickwork on the sports centre extension is now complete, with cladding and internal works due to begin. The centre will incorporate new changing facilities and a dedicated dance studio for both curriculum delivery and wider community use.

James Keating, Executive Headteacher at Greenfield Academy, said “This new building will transform the lives of our young people for generations to come. It will give our pupils access to an outstanding learning environment, one that truly reflects their potential, nurtures their ambition and provides the facilities they deserve.

“These state‑of‑the‑art spaces will inspire creativity, curiosity and confidence, and will support our staff in delivering exceptional education every single day. We are incredibly proud of the progress being made and deeply grateful to all partners involved in bringing this vision to life.”

An additional refurbishment contract includes works within areas of the existing school, where spaces are being reconfigured and upgraded to create new layouts and improved facilities, going beyond cosmetic improvements to deliver long‑term functional benefits.

The combined multi-million pound redevelopment project will provide modern, flexible teaching spaces, enhanced sports provision and improved facilities designed to support current and future generations of students, while strengthening the academy’s role at the heart of the community.

Cllr Cathy Hunt, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for children and young people’s service, said: “This is a key milestone in developing a modern education hub at Greenfield Academy and we are pleased that our strong collaboration with Esh Construction and the academy has allowed us to reach this important moment. We’re excited for this multi-million-pound development to be completed, when it will provide a cutting-edge facility for families in Newton Aycliffe.”

To find out more about Esh Construction, visit www.eshgroup.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Patrick O'Kane .