Today was the official opening ceremony of our new extension, which has doubled the size of the school. Representatives from the County and Borough Councils attended, along with the Construction company and Architects who made the vision a reality.

The £6.8m project has provided 3,308 square metres of accommodation including 20 new classrooms, a Drama studio, Lecture Theatre, Media Studies and Music department, Sixth Form space and offices. Our School, which is oversubscribed, was earmarked for expansion by Northamptonshire County Council, who funded the scheme.

The build has enabled us to double our Year 7 intake to 150 and there has also been an expansion of the car park and alteration of existing classrooms. Construction work was managed by Wates Construction, in conjunction with teams of professionals from GSS Architecture, Pick Everard and Scape Procure.

Refinements that have been installed in the building including photo-voltaic panels on the roof and energy efficient lighting and heating systems which will make it as cost-efficient as possible. It was handed over in a phased delivery where students were able to access some of the site at the start of this academic year and they were able to fully occupy the space in October. There will be more than 40 delegates attending the official opening, including senior Brooke Weston Trust staff and Principals who will tour the building and see the classrooms in action.

Principal Angela Reynolds said: ‘This fantastic extension blends seamlessly with our existing building and it has enabled us to expand our numbers of students plus our range of courses, as well as housing a dedicated space for our new Sixth Form. On behalf of the staff and students, I would like to thank all those involved in delivering such bright, modern and well equipped accommodation without disrupting the day to day running of the school.’

John Carlin, Business Unit Director at Wates Construction, said: ‘The resounding success of this extension for Corby Technical School is testament to the efficient and effective procurement process offered by the empa framework. This facilitated the speed at which we were able to start work on site, the minimal disruption afforded to staff and students through our flexible building programme and the expertise we brought to the project as a trusted contractor in the education sector. It was a privilege to work in partnership with the Brooke Weston Trust and Pick Everard to create this exceptional learning environment for the Corby Technical School community.’

Independent property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard delivered project management and quantity surveying services as part of the project. Adrian Ceney, national director at Pick Everard, said: ‘We have worked with the Brooke Weston Trust on a number of schemes and we’re delighted to see another transformative project come to completion. This multi-million pound extension will go a long way in enabling the school to considerably increase its offering to students and is an inspirational learning facility. We have considerable experience in the education sector so I’m delighted that we’ve overseen another successful build.’

Northamptonshire County Council deputy leader and cabinet member for children’s services Cllr Matthew Golby said: 'I am delighted that the county council has been able to fund this extension to Corby Technical School, which will provide much-needed additional school places in one of the fastest growing towns in the country.

'By doubling the number of places available in each year group, we are also able to offer more local families greater choice when applying for a school place in Corby.'Dr Andrew Campbell, Chief Executive of the Brooke Weston Trust said: ‘This expansion would not have been possible without the funding and support of Northamptonshire County Council who recognised the need for extra school places in Corby. I would like to thank them, along with Wates Construction, who project managed the scheme, as well as the teams from GSS Architects, Pick Everard and Scape Procure. Everyone involved worked tirelessly on this extension that will enhance the education and life chances of Corby students now, and for generations to come.’

To view more photo of the event please click here.