New Phoenix Academy set to open in Dawley
Telford & Wrekin Council’s new £16m Phoenix Academy is set to open in September – and construction on the new site is nearing completion.
A topping out ceremony took place on the roof of the new build last week, days before the scaffolding was dismantled.
It was attended by councillors, representatives of the main contractor Kier, principal Neil Stonehouse and two of the existing Phoenix School’s students.
The new academy will see 900 pupils benefit from state of the art educational facilities and there will also be sports facilities for the community to use.
It has been built as part of Telford & Wrekin Council’s £200m Building Schools for the Future programme, which is transforming the borough’s educational estate by rebuilding or remodelling every secondary school in Telford and Wrekin.
The current Phoenix School in Dawley will be sold for development once it has been vacated by staff and students.
Phoenix Academy principal Neil Stonehouse said: “We are very much looking forward to moving into what will be a fantastic facility for everyone in Dawley.
“It’s not just about shiny new buildings – by providing a better learning environment we can raise aspirations and ultimately pupils will achieve more and expect more from life so moving into the new Academy will be a landmark moment for the community of Dawley.”
Councillor Paul Watling, cabinet member for Children, Young People and Families, said: “This will be the second new build Academy opened in the borough as part of our £200m vision to bring our secondary schools into the 21st century.
“It has taken a long time to get to this point but actually seeing the tangible results of all the hard work that has gone into developing this vision is absolutely fantastic for pupils, staff, the community and us as a council.
“I am very excited about the new Academy opening and it was fantastic to both get a perspective of the site from the roof of the main building at the topping out ceremony and also tour the inside of it.”
The project also attracted a £1,5m contribution from Sport England, which has enabled the building of an 8-court sports hall,, national standard BMX track and the Council’s first full size third generation pitch for rugby and football as well as a Healt and Fitness Suite..
The new Phoenix Academy is part of a newly formed Multi Academy Trust which also involves the Sutherland Co-operative Academy and the Wrockwardine Wood Arts Academy.
The trust has been made possible by the achievements of the schools in their latest Ofsted inspections and will see the schools working collaboratively to ensure every child has the best possible education.
