Morgan Sindall Construction’s Cardiff and Bristol business has celebrated the successful handover of the new Olympus Building at Abbeywood Community School in Stoke Gifford, following the initial completion of internal upgrades works in Spring 2025.
The new Olympus Building will open for use immediately after the February half‑term, expanding the school’s capacity to 1,500 pupils in response to growing local demand for secondary school places.
A formal handover event took place on 06 February, with representatives from the Olympus Academy Trust, South Gloucestershire Council, Morgan Sindall Construction, Pick Everard and NVB Architects having the opportunity to see the new facilities in operation.
Procured by the council via the SCAPE Construction framework - which accelerates delivery whilst ensuring both time and cost certainty for public sector clients - the first phase of works included extending the dance studio, refurbishing and decarbonising the existing kitchen, and reconfiguring the changing room facilities.
This was followed by the delivery of the new Olympus Building, which provides 10 new classrooms alongside dedicated office space, a staff working room, and enhanced welfare and accessible facilities.
The scheme also included an extension to the existing car park to provide ten additional spaces, including two electric vehicle (EV) charging points, as well as the installation of a lift to better support pupils with special educational needs (SEN).
As works took place on a live school site, the project team worked in close collaboration with Abbeywood Community School throughout the delivery. Careful coordination of access and activities guaranteed that disruption to pupils was kept to an absolute minimum.
To further support continuity of teaching and learning, Morgan Sindall installed a temporary four‑classroom block during the first phase, ensuring lessons could continue uninterrupted. In recognition of this collaborative approach, the project achieved a perfect 45/45 Considerate Construction score during its final visit.
In line with Morgan Sindall’s commitment to deliver sustainable buildings, the project team installed photovoltaic (PV) panels to the roof and air source heat pumps, helping to reduce the school’s operational carbon emissions and reliance on fossil fuels.
Throughout the project, the tier one contractor implemented its 10 Tonne Challenge which encourages project teams to work collaboratively with consultants and the supply chain to find Intelligent Solutions that reduce construction-related carbon emissions from the construction process by at least 10 tonnes.
The team far exceeded this target, achieving a reduction of 148 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) through the use of electric arc furnace steel, timber waste recycling with Community Wood, and the reuse of concrete hoarding blocks from another Morgan Sindall scheme. This saving - measured using CarboniCa, an intelligent carbon‑reduction tool developed by Morgan Sindall Group and Once For All – is the equivalent to heating 55 UK homes for a year.
Morgan Sindall also piloted one of the construction industry’s first zero-waste plasterboard programmes on the project, in partnership with British Gypsum. As part of the trial, a large volume of plasterboard was pre-cut off-site, weighed, and monitored to minimise waste and improve efficiency.
Working closely with NVB Architects, consultants and subcontractors, Morgan Sindall also utilised the digital construction tool, Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC), to improve accuracy in programming and planning. By using the tool in conjunction with the wider team, the platform enabled improved accuracy in planning and programming, with detailed design coordination and clash detection resolved before construction even commenced.
The project also delivered strong social value outcomes for the local community as Morgan Sindall met, and in the majority of cases exceeded, its community engagement targets through a range of initiatives. These included attending careers events at Abbeywood Community School and South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (SGSC), where the site team spoke to students about the wide range of roles that exist in the construction industry and the different entry routes available.
Notably, Morgan Sindall also attended a Women in Construction Event hosted by South Gloucestershire and Stroud (SGS) College at their Filton Campus, tasking female students to try their hand at some of the trades on offer at the college.
To support the local economy in Stoke Gifford throughout construction, Morgan Sindall directed significant local spend towards the delivery of the project. Close to £6m of project spend was delivered through small and medium‑sized enterprises, with £4.3 million awarded to suppliers located within 20 miles of the site – showcasing a strong commitment to supporting local and regional businesses.
And to give the next generation of construction professionals the chance to gain on-site experience, Morgan Sindall onboarded three local students during the project. In addition, a local plumbing student from South Gloucestershire College was placed with the M&E contractor, Keyplan Engineering, to gain valuable hands-on experience on site.
Rob Williams, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in Cardiff and Bristol, said: “We’re all so proud to have handed over the expanded Abbeywood Community School, which will provide outstanding facilities for pupils, staff, and the wider community for many years to come. Delivering works within a live school environment requires close collaboration, and I’d like to thank Abbeywood Community School and South Gloucestershire Council for their continued cooperation and support throughout works to bring this project to life.
“It’s been a true privilege to play a part in supporting education in the region and leaving a positive, lasting legacy for the local community.”
South Gloucestershire Council Cabinet Member for Schools, Councillor Ian Boulton, said: “I am thrilled that this project is now complete and these improvements to the school will be enjoyed by staff and pupils alike for years to come.
“We have invested almost £12 million in this project, and in other parts of the district we have been able to get projects that had stalled underway. We don’t just want to talk about the future for our children in South Gloucestershire, we want to help build it. Better school buildings and catering for growing pupil numbers is a key part of that mission.”
Claire Moloney-Banks, Interim CEO of The Olympus Academy Trust, said: “Abbeywood Community School continues to grow at the heart of our community. Designed for 180 students per year group, we have expanded and now welcome 240 students annually. To support this growth and uphold our high standards, significant investment in our facilities has been welcomed.
“I am delighted to announce the opening of the new Olympus Building, a modern ten‑classroom block funded by South Gloucestershire Council. Alongside our enhanced catering, changing and drama spaces, this state-of-the-art building strengthens our provision and ensures we continue to offer a first‑class learning experience. Together with our main school and the Engineering Centre, the Olympus Building positions us to serve our community with excellence for many years to come.”
Andrew Paines, Associate of Cost Management at Pick Everard, said: “This has been a fantastic project to be part of, and the positive reaction from pupils and staff to the new Olympus building has been very rewarding. The extra classrooms and improved facilities will make a real difference to the school as it grows to meet demand in the area.”
