Schools
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Willmott Dixon has won a £24m expansion of Avon Valley School & Performing Arts College in Rugby for Warwickshire County Council, increasing the secondary school’s capacity from 1,100 to 1,400 pupils and creating a 20-place specialist provision for pupils with communication and interaction needs.
The scheme comprises a substantial extension to the existing school, a new three-storey teaching block, additional curriculum space and a new four-court sports hall, alongside associated external works and infrastructure. Completion is scheduled for April 2028.
The expansion responds to a shortage of Year 7 places in Rugby and new housing development in the local area. The school will remain open throughout construction, with each phase planned so that it can continue to operate safely with minimal disruption to pupils and staff.
The project was procured through the Constructing West Midlands (CWM) framework. Michelle Cotterill, director at Willmott Dixon:
“The expansion of Avon Valley School represents a significant investment from Warwickshire County Council to address the growing demand for secondary school places, and we’ve worked collaboratively with the council to design a project that can deliver just that.
“From the early concept stages all the way through to delivery and handover, we’re focused on creating a secondary school that enhances each pupil’s experience and the staff’s ability to provide high-quality education. Each phase of development has also been carefully considered to ensure the school can operate safely with minimal disruption throughout construction.”
Cllr Wayne Briggs, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Children & Families, Education and SEND:
“Our local communities are growing, and it is vital for us as a council to support and facilitate that growth. Working collaboratively with partners such as Willmott Dixon is a key part of getting that delivery right. This expansion is a huge step in the right direction for the educational offering in Warwickshire, and we’re looking forward to unveiling the new facilities.”
Constructing West Midlands
Willmott Dixon has been a CWM partner since 2011, and previous schemes include three schools for Sandwell Council, Q3 Academy Langley, Wes Bromwich Collegiate Academy and Bristnall Hall Academy completed in time for the start of the 2021-22 academic year, and Navigation Way (above) in Rugby, a £22m development of 100 affordable homes for Rugby Borough Council.
Education across the Midlands
Avon Valley adds to a growing Midlands schools portfolio for Willmott Dixon. In Leicestershire, the company is building the £11.8m Garendon Primary School in Loughborough – the first to be delivered to a standardised primary design it created for Leicestershire County Council – having previously delivered Hollycroft Primary School in Hinckley, the county’s first school designed to be net zero carbon in operation. In Nottinghamshire, it is delivering the £38m transformation of Outwood Academy Kirkby for the Department for Education.
Nationally, Willmott Dixon’s recent secondary school appointments include the £46m rebuild of Bramhall High School in Stockport and the £61m rebuild of The Mosslands School in Wallasey, both for the Department for Education. Its specialist education work includes Paddock School in Wandsworth, a purpose-built SEND school completed in 2025.