STUDENTS will be moving into new buildings at Neale-Wade Community College at the start of the autumn term ahead of the construction of new facilities as part of the Building Schools for the Future project.

Over 30 classroom spaces and offices have been provided in four large blocks of temporary accommodation at the College to enable demolition and rebuilding work to take place on the school site.

The temporary classrooms were delivered during the summer half term this year and have been fitted out to modern standards for the start of term.

The main contractor, Galliford Try Construction, has worked hard to complete these works and to ensure the site is safe for students, staff and visitors for the first phase of the redevelopment project.

The work so far has seen substantial demolition of older parts of the school with the building of classrooms, main entrance and offices, a large new hall, learning resource centre, drama studios, dining room and kitchen all part of Phase 1 of the development which is due for completion in August 2011.

Among the buildings demolished is Eastwood House, an early 19th Century villa that had been used as a private residence prior to the relocation of the former March Grammar School from the Station Road premises to the Wimblington Road site in 1964

Alan Kippax, Programme Director: Building Schools for the Future, said: “These are exciting times for Neale-Wade Community College. We have the new mobile accommodation in place and have started the first phase of the main works.

“The possibility of including Eastwood House within the rebuilt school was considered as part of the option appraisal for the new design.

!After careful consideration, this was ruled out because it was impracticable to include the building within a larger design without too many compromises in terms of accessibility and value for money. However, the architects who have developed the design for the new school have ensured that features from Eastwood House will be incorporated into the new buildings to provide a strong link with the school’s past.”

Local sub-contractors from March and Wisbech are working on this project, and the other Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project at Thomas Clarkson Community College, Wisbech. The BSF Project includes contractual targets to support local employment opportunities, including apprenticeships.