Through-age school set to move to new base

The Appleton Academy, which is sponsored by Bradford College, will move into the new school premises in October.

The £24.15m building will provide places for more than 1,400 pupils. Bradford Council, which is providing some of the funding, said that the project is due to be completed on schedule and on budget. The building is now undergoing internal fitting and finishing, while landscaping is also underway with sports pitches already seeded.

Appleton Academy opened in 2009, replacing Wyke Manor secondary school and High Fernley Primary School.

The academy is sponsored by Bradford College and is named after Sir Edward Appleton, a Nobel Prize winning scientist who both studied and worked at the college.

The new building and facilities will accommodate the entire school’s age range from nursery through to sixth form on a single site. A new library facility will be available to the public, alongside new sports and ICT facilities.

The new location has been developed by Bradford Council’s partner, Integrated Bradford, and is being designed and constructed by national contractor FMP Limited.

The principal of Appleton Academy, Dwayne Saxton, said: “It really is exciting for everyone connected with the academy to think that we will be moving into these fantastic new facilities next term. The academy is passionate about offering our students the very best, and these facilities will mean that we are able to offer them more opportunities to succeed.”

Bradford Council’s executive member for children’s services, Coun Ralph Berry, said: “The new academy will be an amazing facility when it opens. It will offer pupils and teachers a fantastic learning environment, and provide excellent amenities for Wyke residents.”