'A key milestone' -- project to demolish and rebuild Kirkby school gets go-ahead

A planning application, submitted a year ago, has been approved by Ashfield District Council for The Outwood Academy on Tennyson Street, which has a capacity for about 700 pupils.

The plan has been in the pipeline since the school, formerly known as Kirkby College, joined the Yorkshire-based Outwood Grange Academies Trust three years ago. Indeed the work was originally due to be completed at the start of this new school year in September.

The enormous amount of detail connected to the scheme, as well as a change of government, led to delays. Now, however, the application to knock down the school, which opened back in 1977 as Kirkby Centre Comprehensive, has been given the green light, albeit with a host of conditions attached.

It is hoped that the work can begin next spring, with a view to the new school being opened in time for the 2028/29 academic year.

Andrew Scruby, who is the new head, or lead principal, at Outwood, said that securing planning permission for the rebuild was “a key milestone in our work”.

His view was echoed by a spokesperson for the Department for Education, who commented: “We are thrilled that the plan for Outwood has been granted permission.

"Work will begin soon on building new classrooms and a sports pitch that students can feel proud of and will meet the needs of the future.”

The demolition will be phased, with the front two buildings knocked down first and all teaching moved to the rear two buildings, with temporary classrooms. The new school will then be constructed and, once occupied, the remaining existing buildings will be razed.

The redevelopment project features a new, three-storey, T-shaped educational building on the 5.6-acre site, complete with sports hall, outdoor sports provision and associated parking and landscaping.

Construction company Willmott Dixon, which is the contractor behind the project, says the rebuild will be “a catalyst for Kirkby’s regeneration” and “will aim to revitalise the town by addressing educational needs”.

It will include classes on all three floors, a new entrance plaza facing Kingsley Street, a central courtyard described as “a dynamic social hub for students”, and facilities to benefit the whole Kirkby community.

Planning documents say: “The buildings which comprise the academy at the moment are of a range of ages, but have all now reached the end of their expected life. The school has been identified for a comprehensive redevelopment as part of the Department for Education’s School Rebuilding programme.”

It was also part of a huge school improvement and expansion schedule by Nottinghamshire County Council, whose previous Conservative administration was hoping to invest about £130 million into various projects, backed too by government funding.

Cllr Ben Bradley, ex-leader of the county council and Mansfield’s former Conservative MP, said before the May elections: “The council is committed to building and expanding schools to provide pupils with the best facilities, allowing them to learn in modern, well-equipped buildings.

"There is no better investment in our children’s future than ensuring they get a good education.”

At Outwood, architects and designers promise a building that allows for flexibility and adaptability. The trust hopes it will follow its ethos of ‘students first, raising standards and transforming lives’.

The school was renamed and became part of the Outwood Trust in 2022, a year after Kirkby College had been branded ‘Inadequate’ by the education watchdog, Ofsted.

At the time, the trust’s then chief executive, Martyn Oliver, said: “We are working closely with partners and stakeholders to deliver rapid educational improvement and a new, state-of-the-art building to ensure children get the opportunities they deserve.”

One of those partners, Ashfield’s Reform UK MP Lee Anderson, said at the time: “I have worked closely with the Department for Education, the Schools Commissioner and the county council to secure funding to demolish this school and rebuild, with a new management structure in place.

"I am delighted the Outwood Grange Trust is taking over this failing school. Be in no doubt this is a major coup for Kirkby children because Outwood Grange has a fantastic track record of delivering first-class education in some of the poorest areas.”

The Kirkby school had its latest inspection by Ofsted in May when a huge improvement resulted in ratings of ‘Good’ in three of four categories, covering quality of education, pupils’ personal development, and leadership and management.

Another indication of progress came this summer when students celebrated GCSE exam results that were labelled “exceptional”.

Former head Mark Golden said at the time: “The achievements of our students this year have been amazing and are a reflection of their hard work and dedication to being successful. We are extremely proud.”

THE details of many planning applications can be found in public notices advertised by local and regional newspapers. To catch up on all the latest public notices, go to https://publicnoticeportal.uk/