Work is underway on a £3.5 million expansion project at Finham Park 2 that will see the creation of new classrooms for students and office space for staff.
Deeley Construction has been appointed by Coventry City Council to complete the construction of a new office building, additional outdoor sport facilities and transform existing offices into classrooms at the Coventry school.
The single-storey 8,535 sq ft office building is being built on the site of a former Job Centre which has now been demolished and will include 14 new offices and meeting rooms, of a range of sizes, for teaching and support staff.
It will open up new space in the existing school to create five new classrooms, enabling the school to increase its published admission number (PAN) by 30 pupils, with the phased growth of the school meaning that it will be able to house 900 pupils by academic year 2028-2029.
It is the second phase of works to create new classrooms at the school, bringing the total number created to seven.
The project will also see the creation of a second multi-use games area for students to use for outdoor sports and lessons.
As part of the work, additional car park spaces will be created at the school, including five electric vehicle charging points.
The developments mark another exciting milestone in the evolution of Finham Park 2.
Headteacher Will Keddie said: “We are thrilled that the next phase of building development at Finham Park 2 is underway. As our school grows from a four-form to a six-form entry, we are proud to be playing a key role in easing the pressure on secondary school places across Coventry. This expansion will also allow us to broaden our curriculum, enhance our extra-curricular provision and build towards a more extensive and inclusive Sixth Form offer in the future.
“While we have valued sharing our space with the Finham Park MAT Central Services team, having full access to the building will greatly improve student movement and day-to-day operations. Visitors frequently comment on the calm, purposeful atmosphere of the school and this development will only strengthen that further.
“We are grateful to Coventry City Council for their continued support and are delighted to be working once again with Deeley Construction, whose professionalism in delivering our previous expansion was exceptional.”
The office facility will feature photovoltaic panels on the roof to support a sustainable renewable energy supply.
By partnering with Coventry company Innovaré Offsite, Deeley Construction is utilising off-site manufacturing for the office building. The facility will be built using an innovative structural insulated panel system, building on the firm’s recent work with timber frame housing and lightweight steel frame structures.
It marks the second project for Deeley Construction at Finham Park 2 in the last two years. The firm completed a £1.5 million refurbishment project in 2023 to create new specialist classrooms and a multi-use games pitch, allowing the school to accommodate an additional 60 pupils.
Cllr Dr Kindy Sandhu, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills at Coventry City Council, said: “It’s amazing to see the progress of this project and clearly all the effort that has gone into it so far.
“The new facilities are going to be hugely important to the education and learning of our young people, as well as the entire school community. The partnership between the council, Finham Park 2 and Deeley Construction has been a success so far and I have every confidence that it will continue for the next stage of this project.
“I’m really excited to see the final stage of this development come to life.”
The project is being supported by PMP Consultants, Lungfish Architects, Mucklow & Harris and Clancy Consulting.
Matthew Lynch, Commercial Director at Deeley Construction, said: “We’re proud to be back on site at Finham Park 2 and delivering a second scheme that will create vital school places for young people in the local area.
“We have been constructing schools in Coventry for more than 70 years, providing young people with space to learn, develop and build their futures.
“Our team will be working to ensure minimal disruption to pupils at the school, with work to refurbish office space and create new classrooms taking place over the summer school holidays.”
Featured photo caption: From left to right – Jamie Travis (Deeley Construction), Will Keddie (Finham Park 2), Kieran Roberts (Lunghfish Architects), Richard Pepper (Deeley Construction), Matthew Lynch (Deeley Construction), Andrew Woolacott (Mucklow and Harris), Ria Murray (Lungfish Architects), Cllr Dr Kindy Sandhu, Sam Parker (Coventry City Council), David Carter (Finham Park Multi Academy Trust) and Phillip Moore (Coventry City Council).