Roof completed at new 900-student secondary school in North Whiteley with construction on track
A construction milestone is being celebrated at a new school
The roof at a new 900-student secondary school is complete, with construction on track to be complete next year.
A milestone has been reached at the site of a new North Whiteley school which is being built by Kier Construction to meet growing demand for education settings amid the increase in housing developments in the area.
Earlier this week, stakeholders visited the site for a “topping out” ceremony to celebrate the building reaching its full height. The commemoration was attended by Councillor Roz Chadd, the local authority’s cabinet lead member for children’s services, and Councillor Juliet Henderson, cabinet member for education.
Once complete, the school will feature a three-storey main building with classrooms, drama studio, and assembly and dining halls, with a separate two-storey sports block featuring a four-court sports hall and multi-use activity studio.
Subject to consultation and final approval, the building will also include specialist provision for 15 children with autism, including access to a dedicated outdoor area.
Councillor Chadd said: “This is a very exciting stage in the school’s development because you can now see everything really taking shape and coming together. The topping out ceremony is an opportunity to celebrate this significant milestone and recognise all the hard work and commitment that has brought us to this point.
“Looking ahead, it’s clear to see that this is going to be an exceptional learning environment and a vital amenity for local children and families. I look forward to following the school’s progress through to completion next year and in the meantime, a huge thank you to everyone involved in this incredible project.”
Designed by Hampshire County Council’s expert property services team, the school is being built with capacity for 900 places and scope to expand to up to 1,200 if needed in future.
Following extensive consultation, and a decision by Hampshire County Council in April last year, the school will be run by The Henry Cort Community College, which will relocate from its current site in Fareham to the new building in North Whiteley from September 2027. The site will then become the catchment school for new secondary children across Whiteley, while Fareham will then be served by Cams Hill School and Fareham Academy.
The setting will serve the growing community across all of Whiteley, which is expanding by an additional 3,500 homes in the north.
Allan Davey, head of design at Kier Construction Southern, said: “We are proud to bring our expertise in the education sector to this brand-new secondary school for North Whiteley.
“It is fantastic to celebrate this milestone with Hampshire County Council and our trusted supply chain partners. The collaboration across the whole project team is what has brought this project to life over the past eight months.
“With the buildings now at full height, we can clearly see the high-quality learning environment taking shape which will enable pupils to thrive.”