A major expansion at Rushcliffe Spencer Academy in West Bridgford has been given the green light.
The school joins a long list of schools across the county that will see millions of pounds invested by Nottinghamshire County Council over the next 12 – 18 months, ensuring children in Notts get the best possible education in modern, well-equipped schools.
The multi-million pound expansion at Rushcliffe Spencer Academy will see an additional 560 secondary school places created and provide the local community with a new improved sports facility.
Hundreds of school places are needed following the addition of thousands of new homes in the catchment area in recent years.
The County Council’s Cabinet for Economic Development Asset Management approved funding of an additional £27million to deliver the works to be covered by the Council’s basic need allocation budget and housing developer contributions.
Contractors Morgan Sindall will deliver the scheme for The Spencer Academies Trust with Arc Partnership managing the works on behalf of the County Council. 
Councillor Keith Girling, Cabinet Member for Economic Development Asset Management, said: “This is an investment in our children’s future. The next few years will be an exciting time for school developments, with expansions and improvements planned across the county, and it is a development that I’m fully behind.
“The approval for expansion of Rushcliffe Spencer Academy addresses the growing demand we’re seeing for secondary school places in Rushcliffe.”
The expansion will comprise of a stand-alone new teaching block with dining facilities and sports hall and associated changing facilities, remodelling works to existing buildings, improvements to the external area such as school access, car parking and grass roots pitch areas. The demolition of the existing Rushcliffe Leisure Centre is also included in the works.
More than 50 new jobs will be created for local people in both teaching and support roles, to meet the needs of the growing school population.
Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Councillor Tracey Taylor, said: “This council is strongly committed to investing in schools across Nottinghamshire and providing sufficient school places.
“It’s fantastic news the expansion has been approved – the project will deliver an additional 450 secondary places and 110 sixth form places, increasing the school’s current capacity by over a third. I’m sure this is very welcome news for residents in the West Bridgford and Ruddington areas, and I look forward to the project getting underway soon.”
Damian Painton, Principal at Rushcliffe Spencer Academy, said: “Getting to this stage has taken years of work by a great many people. I’m delighted that council members’ decision will enable more local children to come to our school and will ensure that pupils at Rushcliffe continue to have access to World Class facilities in support of their education.”
Photo (L to R): The County Council’s Service Director for Investment and Growth Matt Neal, Cabinet Member for Economic Development Councillor Keith Girling, Fraser Mitchell, Secondary Director for the Spencer Academies Trust, Principal of Rushcliffe Spencer Academy Damian Painton and Deputy Cabinet Member for Economic Development Councillor Reg Adair.