The Aedas-designed Petchey Academy was officially opened yesterday by the Rt. Hon. Ed Balls MP, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families. Aedas was appointed to develop and implement the design for The Petchey Academy as well as for a temporary school that has provided a successful learning environment throughout the development and construction process over the past 12 months.

The three-storey structure of the new building provides a compact arrangement for the classrooms, internal activity spaces and amenity areas in order to maximise the external space and playing fields. The building comprises two triangular wings located either side of a triple height top-lit central space. The central drum houses an auditorium, drama space and Learning Resource Centre. All materials and design elements provide a flexible learning environment, and enhance the sense of transparency and openness at the Academy which accommodates 1200 students.