A groundbreaking ceremony has taken place at Stowmarket High School in Suffolk to mark the start of work to expand the school by 300 students.
The expansion will deliver a purpose-built, two-storey teaching block, increasing the school’s capacity from 900 to 1,200 students.
The new block will include 11 classrooms, a group room, a new hall and new toilet facilities.
Lucie Hernandez, Headteacher at Stowmarket High School, said: “This is a tremendously exciting moment for our school.
“The expansion will allow us to support more local children and families while continuing to provide the high standards of education and care that we are known for.
“We are very pleased with the progress being made and are looking forward to seeing the project come to life.”
The project is being funded through Mid Suffolk District Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), alongside additional Section 106 funding, with Barnes Construction appointed as the main contractor for the scheme.
Planning permission for the expansion was secured in September 2025, following public consultation events with Suffolk County Council, Concertus and school representatives.
Cllr Andrew Stringer, Mid Suffolk District Council’s cabinet member for heritage, planning and infrastructure, said: “We recognise that there is a need for more school places in the area.
“The £4.8m we have contributed towards this project in CIL funding will not only make a huge difference to hundreds of students and their families but also demonstrates how developer contributions can be reinvested to help local infrastructure keep pace with housing growth.”
Charles Coulson, Associate Director at Concertus, said: “This groundbreaking event represents a huge amount of hard work by everyone involved.
“This project will provide the school with much-needed, high-quality, additional accommodation to support their educational delivery and ensure that it provides the best opportunities for the students.”
Works are scheduled for completion in early 2027.
