The students at Shipston High School in Warwickshire will have new sports facilities thanks to a £7m sports hall and changing facilities about to be built by Ashe Construction.
The school has grown to meet the needs of the local population and Ashe has been refurbishing and remodelling existing buildings in phases over recent years to help the school increase capacity for an additional 150 pupils.
Following Sport England guidelines, the new sports facilities will provide a multi-use hall with space for four badminton courts, a full-size basketball court and indoor football. Cricket nets will also be included. New changing rooms will be provided with room for 41 pupils in each and will have benches and lockers. There will also be ramped access and facilities for disabled users.
Air source heat pumps and solar panels will make the new building sustainable and high-level natural light via polycarbonate panels will make the sports hall comfortable to use.
The design and build project will see around 40 operatives deliver the contract at the height of the works.
Ashe’s Contract Manager Ben Wandless said: “The existing gym can no-longer accommodate the number of pupils at the school. The new building will provide the latest equipment and the ideal environment for the pupils to play sports and have their PE classes. The sports hall will have a floor system, specified for low energy heating, which can also be used as an exam space. We’re very familiar with the school and will ensure that any disruption to day-to-day activities there is minimised.”
The year-long project follows several other phases of refurbishment undertaken by Ashe at the school.
Acting Head Teacher at Shipston High School, Jordan Allsworth, commented: “Our students have a real love for sport, and these new facilities will give them the perfect environment to pursue that passion. Having access to a modern, purpose-built sports hall means they can enjoy a wide range of activities in an inspiring space that promotes teamwork, resilience and a lifelong commitment to physical activity. This is an exciting step forward for our school and our community.”
In 2017 Ashe built a nine-classroom teaching block and in 2023 a new server room and IT suite were constructed. In 2024 Ashe returned to upgrade classrooms and science labs. The construction team also refurbished design & technology, woodwork and graphics rooms along with improvements for students learning textiles and food tech.
The new gym facilities will benefit the wider-local community and be available for public use outside of school times.
Header image: Ashe Construction — Computer generated aerial view of the new sports facilities at Shipston High School in Warwickshire
