Willmott Dixon has secured a £5 million contract through its framework with Scape to refurbish a former school in Wokingham to create Oakbank, a new secondary Free School which opens this September.

The move follows local demand for a new secondary school serving the needs of villages to the West of Wokingham and other local communities. This has now moved a step closer to reality with education charity CfBT Schools Trust selecting Willmott Dixon to develop the buildings on the disused site to house an inclusive, non-faith secondary school providing 500 – 600 school places for 11 – 16 year olds.


Chris Austin, head of property services at CfBT said: "We are delighted to have been able to secure a contract with Willmott Dixon to refurbish this former school site in time to open Oakbank this September. By working with the Education Funding Agency and Scape we have been able ensure a great start for this groundbreaking new school and its first students."

Free Schools are a central element of the Government's education reform programme, allowing parents, teachers and charities to come forward to set up new schools where there is demonstrable demand. Oakbank is one of 94 Free Schools that have either already opened or have been approved to open from September 2012 onwards.

Working with Architects ADP, Willmott Dixon will begin on site in July, helping ensure Oakbank is ready to open for Year 7 students in September 2012. The remainder of the works will be completed by September 2013. Scape is a local authority owned construction framework.

(CD/GK)