Contractor Henry Brothers Midlands has handed over a new £2.7m teaching block at The Carlton Academy in Nottingham.

The two-storey extension features ten new classrooms on the first floor, with a drama studio, Sixth Form Study Centre, first aid room, toilets, changing facilities, and storage rooms on the ground floor.

Built for Carlton Academy, part of Redhill Academy Trust, and funded by Nottinghamshire County Council, the project also included additional car parking and a new external social space.

The design and build development was project managed by Pulse, with CPMG Architects the architect, Tunstall Smith King the consulting engineers and William Saunders the principal designer.

Ian Taylor, managing director of contractor Henry Brothers Midlands, said: “As specialists in the building of educational facilities, it’s been exciting for Henry Brothers Midlands to have been part of the team on this project at Carlton Academy. The new facilities are first class and I am sure they will benefit the students enormously in their learning.

“This project was on a very tight site, in a residential area, and I am proud of the way that Henry Brothers and others in the team successfully overcame these challenges during the construction phase to build this important and much-welcomed extension for the school.”

During the build phase on the steeply sloping site, some 2500m3 of earth was removed – enough to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

Richard Pierpoint, Executive Head Teacher at The Carlton Academy, said: “We were delighted to secure the funding for this much needed facility and have worked in an outstanding partnership with the contractor. The new building sees the school able to meet the growing demand for secondary school places from within its catchment.

“As a growing, but still average size secondary school, we will continue to offer something very special for our students, both in terms of world class facilities, aligned to other significant investments in science and sport, as well as remaining able to know and support every child through their journey with us.”

Dan Mason, Senior Consultant at Pulse Consult, said: “The Carlton Academy School Key Stage 3-5 teaching block has been an outstanding project to be involved in and will provide an excellent facility for the school moving forwards. Pulse were appointed to provide project management, contract administration and cost consultancy services for the project. All of the members of the client and project team deserve a great deal of credit for what has been achieved, particularly given the challenges that everyone has faced during this year. The team from Henry Brothers have been a pleasure to work with and should be proud of the finished product that has been delivered.”  

Alex Walker, associate group leader for CPMG Architects, said: “We’re pleased to have worked alongside Henry Brothers to expand Carlton Academy to ensure the school can maximise the educational use of every available space to provide top quality education. 

“The pupils and staff can now benefit from a contained drama studio, additional classrooms and a car parking area, which has allowed the school to increase its capacity from 900 to 1,200 pupils.”

Henry Brothers Midlands, which is based in Beeston, undertook a number of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities during the 45-week build period, including talks about career opportunities in construction and the sponsorship of the school’s football kit.

Henry Brothers Midlands is part of The Henry Group, which comprises a number of manufacturing and construction sector companies, ranging from external construction through to interiors fit-out. In partnership with clients, it has a proven track record in education, defence, accommodation, commercial, industrial, transport and healthcare sectors. For more information, visit www.henrybrothers.co.uk