Morgan Sindall has been appointed by the Department for Education (DfE) to deliver the redevelopment of Carleton High School in Pontefract, Wakefield, on behalf of Pontefract Academies Trust.

Funded by DfE’s School Rebuilding Programme, Morgan Sindall will deliver the part redevelopment of the school, including part demolition, the erection of a new three-storey teaching building, and two external canopies.

There will also be the refurbishment of the existing sports hall, reconfiguration of external sports provision, and installation of a new multi-use games area.

Morgan Sindall will also undertake the provision of photovoltaic panels and associated landscaping.

To mark the start of work, Morgan Sindall hosted a groundbreaking ceremony alongside a number of key stakeholders.

Attendees included Ben Hall, area director of Morgan Sindall; Nick Theos, project manager at Morgan Sindall; John Milburn, project director at the DfE; Shaheen Shariff, headteacher at Carleton High School; Richard Amery, chairman of the School Performance Review Board; and Julian Appleyard OBE, chief executive of the Pontefract Academies Trust.

All buildings in the School Rebuilding Programme are built to DfE technical specification and standards, designed to be net zero carbon in operation and be more resilient to the effects of climate change.

The £19m project will see the new building developed on the school’s existing tennis courts, minimising disruption for pupils and staff.

The project will also see the removal of old buildings and landscaping of the site, with all work expected to complete by early 2026.

Throughout the build programme, Morgan Sindall will deploy its Intelligent Solutions approach to bring together digital and platform design with modern construction methods and innovative carbon reduction tools to create inspiring new facilities for students.

The BIM Level 2 project will utilise project management tool BIM 360 and the use of Oculo – a digital construction solution that combines hard-hat cameras, BIM models/floorplans, and artificial intelligence – will be implemented to monitor and control the quality of works.

Air source heat pumps are being used in the school’s heating systems, while photovoltaic panels are being used on canopies and the building’s roofs, including a biosolar green roof.

Appleyard said: “This project signifies our dedication to providing an exceptional educational environment for our students.

“With this state-of-the-art facility, we are laying the foundation for a brighter future, one where excellence in education is paramount.”