Transformation… but towards what?
10 February 2021
Reds10 take part in ACE roundtable discussing Project Speed & the School Building Programme
18 February 2021Modules Delivered for New School at Matthewsgreen
Construction of a new school for Wokingham took a major step this week, with the first phase of modules lifted into place for the buildings. The Keys Academy Trust will run the 210-place school in Matthewsgreen, which is being built on land off Queens Road.
The first modular frames were lifted into place last week as the new school begins to take shape. Phase one of the installation included 50 modular frames which have been landed in place and make up the majority of the primary school building. The new multi-use games area is also nearing completion.
Seventy-five per cent of the building work for the new block will be completed modularly offsite, a decision we made to cut carbon emissions in the construction process. This helps the council towards its goal of making Wokingham a carbon neutral borough by 2030.
“It’s great to see the buildings taking shape now the modules have arrived on site at Matthews Green. Investing in new schools is vital for the borough and ensures we support families by providing a school place close to home. “The Keys Academy Trust are proven to provide an excellent education to hundreds of students in our borough, running successful schools in Shinfield, Earley, Hurst, Sonning and Twyford. We look forward to seeing them provide this standard of schooling to more students in the borough when this school opens.”
‘‘We are pleased to have reached an important milestone on another project with Wokingham Borough Council. Our partnership is shaping the future of the local community and Matthewsgreen is set to be one of the key projects, whilst helping the council reach its carbon agenda.”
A new 500sqm community facility will be built on the same site as the school as part of the North Wokingham major development. It will have a separate entrance but will be linked, with the school and community centre sharing facilities if and when needed. A decision has not yet been made on who will run the facility.
The new school and community amenities are funded through developer contributions as part of the four major new communities at Arborfield, Shinfield and North and South Wokingham, and includes an investment of £98million in new schools.
In total these developments will bring seven new primary schools, with two already open at Montague Park in Wokingham and Alder Grove in Shinfield. Two others are under construction including this one in Matthewsgreen and another at Arborfield Green, and three still to come. This is on top of the Bohunt Wokingham Secondary School at Arborfield Green which opened its doors in September 2016.
“New schools are one of the most important improvements we are seeing across the borough. It’s vital we support our current and future residents by providing the facilities they need nearby. The new school at Matthewsgreen is a great example of this with a community facility being provided at the heart of the new development, alongside the school.”
