Groundbreaking takes place for new Amble school
19 Mar 2025
Work is now underway on the new James Calvert Spence College (JCSC) in Amble.
The £47m investment in the Coquet Partnership of schools is part of the County Council’s multi-million-pound investment in improving education facilities across the county.
The new school buildings for JCSC, designed by Ryder Architecture and delivered by contractor Kier, will use innovative technologies to create a net zero carbon in operation school, supporting the council’s ambition to become carbon neutral by 2040.
New and improved sports facilities will also be available to the local community including artificial and natural grass pitches, MUGAs and sports hall.
A formal groundbreaking ceremony has now taken place, with the first sod of turf cut from the ground by County Councillors with help from Year 10 construction pupils from the current James Calvert Spence College.
Cllr Guy Renner-Thompson, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Children’s Services, said: “It’s fantastic to be starting work on this flagship project in the county.
“This school is set to provide a first-class learning environment for our children and young people, as well as fantastic sports facilities that will benefit the community too.
“We are looking forward to work getting underway imminently.”
James Andriot, Headteacher at James Calvert Spence College, added: “The cutting of the sod ceremony was an opportunity for all the stakeholders involved in this project to celebrate years of hard work coming to fruition.
“We were delighted to involve seven of our Year 10 construction pupils in the ceremony, who will be supported by Kier with work experience on the new school site.
“On behalf of the staff, students and wider community I am delighted that the County Council have supported the exciting and transformative re-build of our school.
“This investment in the Amble community will ensure that generations of young people will have access to high quality facilities and increased educational opportunities in years to come.”
Along with a new £35.5m state-of-the-art secondary school, the wider redevelopment of the JCSC site includes the refurbishment of the former middle school to create new facilities for Amble First School and a satellite provision for Barndale House School to provide 50 new places for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).