New Derbyshire primary school in Boulton Moor invites local community to grand opening

Clover Leys Spencer Academy invited excited staff, pupils and parents to its first-ever school fete to celebrate its official opening last month.

Delivered by Morgan Sindall Construction on behalf of Derbyshire County Council, the new 1.5 form primary school will look to serve Boulton Moor, with three separate housing development phases set to provide 1,600 new homes to the area.

The school features seven classrooms with space for 210 students, as well as key facilities such as a playing field, an all-weather play area, a habitat area, 40-space car park for staff and parents, and an outdoor classroom.

The school’s design includes a steel frame construction with Steel Framing System (SFS) façade, brick and render cladding, and a thin gauge aluminium roof – all features that promote a long-standing, durable structure. The project was completed entirely in-situ, promoting greater structural strength and design flexibility throughout construction.

Procured via the SCAPE Construction framework, Clover Leys Spencer Academy is Morgan Sindall’s third project in collaboration with Derbyshire County Council and the sixth school delivered for the Spencer Academies Trust.

Construction commenced in May 2023 after a period of careful planning and preparation. Throughout project works, a temporary learning village was set up at Chellaston Academy to ensure students could continue their education without interruption.

Due to the high demand for electricity from nearby housing developments, the existing power supply was insufficient to meet the needs of the academy. To address this, Morgan Sindall constructed a dedicated substation on-site to accommodate the additional power requirements, ensuring the facility was connected to reliable electricity during operations.

Through the use of CarboniCa, a data-driven tool to monitor and reduce carbon emissions, environmental performance targets were set, including waste reduction, low carbon site operations, and the implementation of a sustainability charter. The project’s dedication to best practices was further validated by achieving a perfect score of 45/45 in the Considerate Constructors Scheme report.

Beyond environmental credentials, £1.8 million was generated in social value, representing a 21% social return on the project’s cost. The team’s commitment to community engagement is evident in the 73 volunteer hours donated and the support of 144 apprenticeship weeks.

This project not only strengthens the partnership between Concertus, Morgan Sindall, Derbyshire County Council, and the Spencer Academies Trust, but also demonstrates the success of collaborative efforts between public and private sectors in delivering essential educational infrastructure.

Richard Fielding, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in the Midlands, said: “The completion of the long-awaited Clover Leys Spencer Academy marks a significant milestone in our ongoing collaboration with Derbyshire County Council and the Spencer Academies Trust. This project shows our commitment to delivering high-quality, sustainable educational facilities that will serve generations to come. We’re immensely proud of our innovative approaches to reducing carbon emissions and engaging with the local community throughout the construction process. This project showcases the importance of collaborative efforts and a shared vision for excellence in education.”

Matthew Self, Managing Director at Concertus, said: “We are thrilled to have played a key role in the design and delivery of Clover Leys Spencer Academy. The school’s modern, durable structure, with its focus on flexibility and sustainability, reflects our commitment to creating learning environments that stand the test of time. Collaborating with Morgan Sindall Construction and Derbyshire County Council has allowed us to ensure that every aspect of the school’s design will support both the students and the wider community for years to come.”

Councillor Alex Dale, Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Education, said: “This is a significant moment in this school’s story so far and I’m delighted to join pupils, their parents and carers, staff and all our partner organisations to celebrate this important milestone. We want to thank everyone for their patience, support and for working with us so pupils can now enjoy this fantastic new school. We’re committed to giving Derbyshire children the best possible start in life and our significant investment in this innovative and exciting building will help us meet that pledge as bring many benefits and be enjoyed for the wider community.”