BAM Construction is lined up to build a £27 million school in Surrey.

The contractor, which has offices across the UK, has been named preferred bidder for the new Rydens Enterprise School and Sixth Form College in Hersham.

Subject to all the necessary consents being obtained, the school plans to use surplus playing fields as a site for the new school. The old building will eventually be demolished to make space for residential development including affordable homes.

BAM will create a 16,000 sq m school accommodating 1,688 students aged 11 to 18. It will feature a design layout in keeping with the school’s ‘house’ system, creating different teaching blocks leading off a central spine.

The school will also include a sixth-form centre, sports hall and other facilities, which will be available for the local community to use out of hours for adult learning, leisure and events. BAM intends to use the construction works as an opportunity to support the curriculum as well as to raise awareness about health and safety on construction sites.

The contractor will keep staff and students up to date with progress by holding site visits.

We look forward to creating a top class facility for pupils, parents and teachers in Hersham. BAM will work hard to make sure our work benefits the local community and environment throughout the construction phase as well as in final use.

Anthony Nagle

BAM Construction Director

Sustainability features will include photovoltaic cells as BAM aims for an ‘Excellent’ rating through the BREEAM environmental performance scheme.

Elsewhere in Surrey, BAM’s South East construction team is also working on a new veterinary school for the University of Surrey in Guildford. Works are planned to start in March 2015 and complete by Christmas 2016.