A ribbon cutting ceremony has been held at the Orchard View Primary Academy in Aylesbury to celebrate the new school’s opening.
The event on Friday 23rd October saw several of the school’s pupils and teachers join representatives from Buckinghamshire Council, Morgan Sindall, and Inspiring Futures Partnership Trust, for a special event.
On the day, the new school’s staff gave a welcoming address, with a performance by pupils and a time capsule buried before the ribbon was cut.
The school on Aylesbury’s new Kingsbrook development, which will be run by the Inspiring Futures Partnership Trust, has been completed ready for the pupils to start learning on the first day of the new term.
Morgan Sindall’s Northern Home Counties business was appointed by Buckinghamshire Council to deliver the development, which was procured via the Southern Construction Framework.
Orchard View Primary Academy is a two form-entry, 420-place primary school with a 60-place nursey, 12-place SEND provision, and multipurpose outdoor spaces. The school’s design means that it can be expanded in the future for a capacity of 630 pupils.
The two-storey main building features classrooms for each year alongside the main hall, catering areas, staff and office areas, a Learning Resource Centre, activity studio, and a space to teach practical food tech, science, and design & technology lessons. The site’s main building includes a dedicated SEND provision for children with social, emotional and mental health needs, consisting of two classrooms, sensory rooms, a therapy room, and life skills spaces.
An adjoining one-storey building houses a nursery with two playrooms as well as WCs, kitchenette, and storage facilities. Externally, a Sports England standard pitch, multi-use games area (MUGA), hard court, and dedicated playgrounds has been created.
The building’s structure includes offsite manufactured timber frame walls, supporting a first-floor structure of pre-cast hollow core concrete planks and an insulated timber roof cassettes system. The main building also includes a pre-cast lift shaft and staircases.
Morgan Sindall utilised its Intelligent Solutions approach to ensure the school’s design, construction, and operation are as sustainable as possible, which aligns with Buckinghamshire Council’s environmental strategy and commitment. The new school has been built to be Net Zero in Operation, a first for the county, and will be tested after six months of operation to ensure it meets this high environmental standard.
The digital carbon assessment and reduction tool CarboniCa was used to inform the school’s creation, with the design team adopting a fabric-first approach to make the site as efficient as possible. The school’s external envelope has been designed with a highly efficient U-Value to ensure optimal thermal comfort and with an airtightness performance that will minimise energy losses. The window glazing has been designed to balance heating and thermal comfort from natural sunlight while avoiding excessive heat levels.
A large photovoltaic panel array has been installed on the roof along with green roofs that provide vegetation for insulation, cooling, and direct carbon absorption, reducing the energy needed for heating and cooling, while also managing stormwater and boosting biodiversity.
Air source heat pumps will provide heating and hot water in the kitchens and ventilation will predominantly be achieved through natural means, such as opening windows and ventilation stacks to circulate fresh air. Passive ventilation is supported by local NVHR (Natural Ventilation with Heat Recovery) units, positioned in teaching spaces to enhance airflow and maintain indoor air quality while optimising energy efficiency.
Morgan Sindall collaborated with local organisations and suppliers to maximise opportunities for the community, generating more than £11m in social value over the course of the project. This included partnering with Buckinghamshire College Group to provide multiple learning experiences and two student placements as well as supporting the Bucks Skill Show. Four
nearby schools attended a construction careers event at the site, providing pupils with an introduction to the sector and giving them the chance to learn on a virtual excavator.
The tier one contractor also worked closely with the local community to minimise inconvenience to nearby residents, such as carefully considering traffic management throughout construction.
Rod Pavey, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in the Northern Home Counties, said: “Orchard View Primary Academy’s opening ceremony was a wonderful moment for the whole team, as we know this school is going to play a central role in the Kingsbrook community for generations to come.
“Seeing the pupils, staff and school stakeholders come together and cut the ribbon really highlighted how this project has been a collaborative undertaking from the beginning. Thanks to our close working relationship with Buckinghamshire Council and the Inspiring Futures Partnership Trust, we’ve been able to deliver an inspiring, sustainable school tailored to the needs of the local area.”
Carl Jackson, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Education & Children’s Services, said: “Today is a proud moment for everyone involved in bringing Orchard View Primary Academy to life, and for the children and families who will benefit from this fantastic new school.
“As Kingsbrook continues to grow, we are investing in high-quality school places to ensure local children can learn and thrive close to home. Orchard View Primary Academy provides excellent facilities, specialist support for children with additional needs, and a sustainable environment which will serve this community for generations to come.”
