Woodham Academy is to become a stunning state-of-the-art campus for learning with sports facilities for students with access for the whole community.
Plans to build a new three-storey building at Woodham Academy were passed unanimously at the county planning committee.
Liberal Democrat councillor Michael Stead, who represents residents on the county and parish councils in Woodham, applauded the decision.
Cllr Stead commented, “It’s absolutely wonderful that young people in Newton Aycliffe will get a stunning new school which will be an integral part of our community. Indeed with the Council’s commitment to rebuilding Greenfield School as well, it means that both of our secondary schools are getting massive investment.”
The new school, comprising of teaching and sports buildings, will replace the existing school just to the southeast of the existing school. The current school buildings will be demolished once the new school opens.
Planning officers explained the proposals at Durham County Councils planning committee. A library, dining halls and teaching areas will be created in the new building.
An impressive new sports building will have a melee swimming pool, large sports hall as well as fitness room, dining and sports areas.
The current school buildings are end of life and in need of replacement and new buildings will be of a high environmental standard.
Danny Morgans, deputy headteacher at Woodham Academy, said: “Providing the highest quality of education, given the constraints of the building, can prove challenging during periods of inclement weather. Rooms can often be unavailable due to flooding issues and this has a detrimental impact on students’ learning.
“The proposed new buildings will accommodate students in a variety of modern classrooms and specialist spaces. They will deliver significant operational benefits by minimising movement time around the site and provide state of the art IT infrastructure and will offer an attractive learning environment to deliver the school curriculum, all of which will contribute to enhancing student’s learning.”
At the committee planning, members were told the development will provide a significantly more energy efficient building, reducing energy costs and creating a more sustainable school.
Mr Morgans added: “It’s extremely important for the project to commence on the planned start date. The timelines have been carefully considered to ensure that the new school buildings are open and all resources have been moved to allow a smooth transition for students in September 2024. This is an exciting opportunity to develop a new school building that will bring an educational environment for the young people of Newton Aycliffe into the 21st century.”
The application was deemed a “no-brainer” and was passed unanimously.
Lib Dem councillor Michael Stead, added, “We are determined to make sure that every single pupil across Newton Aycliffe and the whole of the wider area get the best education in the best buildings possible and I’m delighted at the improvements we are seeing in our town for our young people.”
Photo: Woodham Academy From Durham County Council.