29 April 2025
£6.5m Northumberland school project kicks off
Robertson Construction North East has broken ground on a new £6.5m project at King Edward VI School (KEVI) in Morpeth for Northumberland County Council, which will see the development of a dedicated sports and physical activity hub.
A single-storey extension will be constructed on part of the school’s underused hockey pitch, featuring a modern sports hall with supporting amenities for year-round use. The local community will be able to use the facilities, which will be complemented by a new 3G pitch delivered by the Football Foundation charity.
The steel-frame sports hall will incorporate modern mechanical and electrical systems, including underfloor heating and rooftop photovoltaic panels. Sustainability and efficiency are key priorities, with offsite manufacturing and on-site material to be reused to reduce waste throughout construction.
Once the new sports hall is complete, existing PE spaces will be repurposed into additional classrooms to help accommodate a growing student population.
Neil Kennedy, Regional Managing Director, Robertson Construction North East, said: “Having recently completed the school project in Amble for Northumberland County Council, this project sees us continue our working relationship which shares a vision for high-quality projects that make real impact on the communities they serve.
“Breaking ground on any project marks a significant day, and we look forward to working closely with both the Council and the school as we become part of the community throughout the build.”
Subject Leader for PE at KEVI Rachel Shaw said: “This will greatly enhance all of our students’ experience of PE and promote overall well-being in the community. We are excited for the opportunities it will bring our students, who truly deserve a modern and inspiring environment.
“Our students strive for excellence and need improved facilities if they are going to continue to excel. This is a very exciting time for us all and we can’t wait to see the impact it will have on our students and local community in the future.“
Robertson is delivering the project under a design & build contract following the redevelopment of Amble Middle School into King Edwin Primary School and Barndale-by-the-Sea for the Council. King Edwin includes an early years wing, library, hall, outdoor space and playing fields, whilst Barndale-by-the-Sea caters for pupils with a range of neurodiverse needs. Acting as a satellite hub of Barndale School in Alnwick, it features bespoke classrooms and therapy rooms, a life skills studio, home economics classroom, STEM classroom and library.
