Morgan Sindall Construction’s Yorkshire business has started on site at Hempland Primary School, on behalf of the Department for Education (DfE) and Pathfinder Multi Academy Trust.
The new primary school consists of a two-storey building with ground floor classrooms serving reception and infant pupils, and junior classes on the upper floor.
The building will also include two sports halls, welfare and sensory rooms, a learning resource room, lifts, a kitchen, and staff office space.
The steel frame was put in place by previous contractor ISG, and the original designs are being kept. Work is planned across four phases, with completion targeted for spring 2028.
Once the new building is finished, Morgan Sindall will demolish the preexisting site, a new sports field and car park for staff and visitors will be built in its place.
Sustainability is central to the project. The school will feature roof-mounted photovoltaic (PV) panels, air source heat pumps, and heat recovery ventilation. These measures are designed to achieve net zero carbon in operation.
The team has set strong social value commitments. These include 127 apprenticeship weeks, seven new work starters, 55% of labour drawn from within 30 miles of the site, and a Considerate Constructors score of 43 out of 45.
Morgan Sindall is also engaging directly with the school. This includes financial support for the school’s F1 STEM racing programme, which gives pupils an introduction to engineering.
As the site sits within an active community, the team has put robust safety and security measures in place. Residents have been informed of planned activity, site deliveries have been rerouted to cut traffic, and disturbance is being kept to a minimum.
Abbie Innes, Head teacher at Hempland Primary School, said: “We are delighted to see work progressing on our new school building and to welcome Morgan Sindall onto site. This project represents a major investment in the future of our children and community, creating modern, sustainable learning spaces that will support an outstanding education for generations to come. After a period of uncertainty, it is exciting to see momentum return and we are incredibly grateful for the continued patience and support shown by our pupils, families, staff and local residents throughout the process.”
Michelle Bowling, Chief Operating Officer at Pathfinder Multi Academy Trust, said: “It is fantastic to see construction officially recommence at Hempland. Working closely with the Department for Education and Morgan Sindall, we are committed to delivering a high-quality, net zero carbon school that will provide exceptional facilities and opportunities for both pupils and staff. This development is an important milestone not only for Hempland, but for the wider community, and we look forward to seeing the project take shape over the coming months.”
Ben Hall, Area Director at Morgan Sindall Yorkshire, said: “We are delighted to make a start on site at Hempland Primary School. As a team we are dedicated to creating modern facilities to support an excellent, enriching education, and will continue to work alongside the school and the wider community to ensure the best outcomes for its young students.”
