Work begins on multi-million pound school extension project in Shepshed

The scheme will involve work to both Iveshead School and St Botolph’s CE Primary School in Forest Street.

Work is underway on the first phase of a £17.5M extension and refurbishment project which will provide hundreds of new school places in the Shepshed area.

The transformation of the Shepshed schools’ campus will help meet increasing demand for school places arising from new housing developments in the area, as well as the need for further places for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The scheme, funded jointly by the county council and a Department for Education grant, will involve work to both Iveshead School and St Botolph’s CE Primary School which share the same site off Forest Street. The contractor for the work is Willmott Dixon.

It will see Iveshead Secondary School moved to a single building and St Botolph’s CE Primary School relocated to the former Shepshed High School’s building.

Due to be completed early next year, work at Iveshead Secondary School will also include a large refurbishment to the existing building, six-classroom extension, the creation of a school foyer entrance, outdoor canopy and hard play areas

The second phase of the project will see the former Shepshed High School building transformed into a state-of-the-at 630-place school for St Botolph’s CE Primary School, expected to be completed in summer 2022. The school will gradually increase places in the following years to extend its capacity from 280 to 630 places.

The final stage will see the Department for Education (DfE) build a new 50-place school to be called The Bowman Academy on the current St Botolph’s school site for children with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs. This is planned to open in September 2023.

Deborah Taylor, lead member for children and families at Leicestershire County Council said: “We are delighted work has begun on this key development for Shepshed and are looking forward to seeing it progress.

“Ensuring we are providing more school places for children of all ages and abilities, particularly those with special educational needs or disabilities, is a key priority for us and this scheme will help us meet growing demand in Shepshed.”

Emma Pepper, headteacher at St Botolph’s, said: “St Botolph's Primary School are so excited to have this great opportunity to move and expand our provision even further. The new building will enable us to provide teaching and learning facilities beyond anything we could have imagined, with two halls and purpose built science/cookery/art facilities, not to mention the sensory room/soft play area we have planned.

"We are also hoping that the community will be keen to use the space (indoors and out) for any local groups and have already had lots of enquiries! As the project develops, we hope restrictions ease to enable us to share our vision with everyone involved.”