Construction of Whitelands Academy begins for Kier

Kier have been contracted to construct the new Whitelands Academy community secondary school in Bicester, Oxfordshire by the White Horse Foundation with completion set for September 2020.

The new school will accommodate 600 pupils within 26 classrooms over an area of 5,210sq m and will also feature a special education needs area, a main hall connected to a drama studio, kitchens, and an outdoor covered seating area, quiet areas, social spaces, a garden, allotments, a four court sports hall, multi-use game area, and sports pitches.

The Director for Kier’s Oxford Office, Jason Brown stated: “We are extremely delighted to be working with Oxfordshire Country Council to deliver Whitelands Academy at Bicester.

“This project is the first contract being delivered through our new Oxford based office and further reinforces Kier’s position as the UK’s leading builder of educational establishments, delivering over 1000 spaces per week.”

Once constructed, the new secondary school will also be at the heart of a new village community in Bicester, called Kingsmere, and will be the second project contracted to Kier by the White Horse Foundation, after the construction of Gloucester Academy six year ago in 2013.

The White Horse Foundation itself is a multi-academy trust of over 30 schools spread across the South West of England.

Dr Nicholas Capstick OBE, CEO of The White Horse Federation, added: “As the White Horse Federation, we are proud and deeply excited to be the sponsor of The Whitelands Academy. We have great ambitions for the school and relish the opportunity to ensure it becomes a true centre of academic excellence.

“Together, we will collaboratively develop an educational offering that meets the present and future needs of Oxfordshire and its wide-ranging communities from all walks of life.”

In Oxfordshire in 2019, approximately 88% of children and their parents achieved their first choice of school despite the consistent rise in demand for places and it is for this reason that, since 2011, more than 6,000 spaces have been constructed in secondary schools across Oxfordshire.

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