Construction starts on the new building for Hartridge High School in Newport
(02/08/2010)

The Leadbitter Group has started construction of a new £29 million building for Hartridge High School in Newport, following its delivery of Newport High School in Bettws for Newport City Council. Both projects are part of the Council’s major secondary school redevelopment programme.

With its innovative design, which includes two teaching wings wrapped around a central atrium, the new school is intended to offer the best possible environment for Hartridge’s 1,450 pupils, raising education standards as well as offering first-class community facilities and providing employment opportunities. The work is expected to be completed by spring 2012.

Rob Bradley, Regional Director of Leadbitter's Western Construction Division, said: “We forged an excellent working relationship with the council, the school and the local community on our previous project in Bettws, and we're looking forward to repeating that success at Hartridge High School.”

The new scheme will replace the current school, which is housed in three buildings that are unsuitable for a number of reasons, due to their state of disrepair, concrete cancer and lack of disabled access.

The cost of the new building is to be met from Newport City Council’s capital budget, together with a contribution from the Welsh Assembly Government. The project has already been selected as a demonstration project by Constructing Excellence under the themes of sustainability, procurement and consultation.

Rob Bradley continues: “The award winning achievements at Newport High School - which was also a Constructing Excellence demonstration project - will be repeated and improved upon to ensure we deliver a school of which the students and teachers of Hartridge will be proud.”

Mayor Councillor Bill Langsford, Newport City Council leader Matthew Evans and Councillor David Atwell, cabinet member for young people’s services, were among those attending an event to mark the start on site.

Councillor Matthew Evans said: “I am delighted that we are able to make progress on this beacon project. Providing top-class schools and improving Newport’s already high educational standards are important priorities for the authority. As we have seen from the new Newport High School, which opened last autumn, pupils, staff and the community will all benefit from the superb new facilities when the building opens its doors.”