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Proposed new site for secondary school announced

BBC The main building at Haygrove School supported by scaffolding and wrapped in plastic to protect the students who are mainly working in temporary buildings on the school siteBBC
The government is working with Somerset Council to finalise plans quickly

A proposed new site for a secondary school, which was forced to close due to faulty construction, has been announced.

Education Minister Stephen Morgan confirmed he is "committed to rebuilding Haygrove School" during a visit on Thursday.

The Bridgwater school, in Somerset, was partially shut in August 2023 amid safety concerns. Since then, lessons have taken place in temporary classrooms.

In a statement, Mr Morgan said his department is "finalising an agreement" with Somerset Council to rebuild the school on nearby land at Queenswood Farm.

Leanne Mills, the school's interim headteacher, said there was a "sense of urgency" that something needs to happen quickly.

She said: "I think it wouldn't be practical and wouldn't be fair to our community for a school to be rebuilt on this current site."

Haygrove School Education Minster Stephen Morgan (centre) standing next to the Bridgwater MP Ashley Fox (left) and the interim head teacher Leanne Mills (right) in front of the condemned building at Haygrove Sch Haygrove School
The education minister was joined on the visit by Bridgwater MP Ashley Fox and the school's interim headteacher

An inspection by the Department for Education (DfE) found Haygrove's main building, which was constructed in 2020 by Caledonian Modular, was unsafe due to issues with structural integrity and "poor workmanship".

Its sudden closure led to some children missing lessons or being forced to learn at other sites, ahead of temporary classrooms being installed.

With the condemned building so close to temporary classrooms, there are concerns it would be too noisy and unsafe for students to continue to learn here.

Mr Morgan added: "We know that pupils at Haygrove School have faced continued disruption, and need clarity on what the future holds.

"We are continuing to work closely with the council on the next steps, including finalising an agreement to rebuild at the new site, Queenswood Farm."

A map of Bridgwater showing the current school site and the preferred school site
The preferred site to build the new school is on land known locally as Queenswood Farm on the edge of Bridgwater

Ashley Fox, the Conservative MP for Bridgwater, said the government, Somerset Council and the Quantock Education Trust are working together towards an agreement in principle that the new school would be on the Queenswood Farm site.

It is a greenfield site within the school's catchment area, which was previously considered by the school for development in 2010.

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