Appleton Academy new sports facilities open to pupils
Appleton Academy has taken possession of a newly constructed covered Multi Use Games Areas (MUGA) and All Weather Pitch (AWP), which are now available to be used by the academy’s through age pupils. The covered MUGA was completed on time and the all weather pitch has been completed a year ahead of schedule.
The MUGA and AWP will provide pupils with additional play space and the use of a synthetic pitch. The MUGA can be used for a variety of sports including indoor five-a-side and basketball. The facilities will be available to the whole community when the new £24 million academy, which is sponsored by Bradford College, opens in October next year.
This month has also seen the completion on schedule of the steel structure for the 12,000m2 academy main building, with some 800 tonnes of steelwork erected in just eight weeks. This has allowed the building contractor to start the concreting of floors and construction of the exterior walls. All the work is progressing well and is on schedule. The new building has been developed by Integrated Bradford, a key partner to the Council and responsible for the academy construction programme. It is being designed and constructed by national contractor FMP.
The academy will provide places for more than 1,400 pupils and will be unique within Yorkshire, being the first through age school in the region. It is sponsored by a Further Education college and therefore brings together all sectors of education in one school.
Coun Ralph Berry, Executive Member for Children’s Services, said: “It’s excellent news that these brand new sports facilities are now available to pupils ahead of schedule. The completed building and grounds really will be an educational hub that the whole community can benefit from and be proud of.”
Dwayne Saxton, Principal of Appleton Academy, said: “These are fantastic new facilities that are available to our pupils and will be there for the whole community to use when we open next year. It really is full steam ahead now with the main building and it really is exciting to see it taking shape so quickly.”
