Construction work is underway at a £5.6 million primary school located on the old Filton Airfield in Patchway. The Charlton Wood Primary Academy is being built by Bristol-based Beard Construction and it will open its doors in September 2019.

The scheme includes the addition of 14 classrooms – eight rooms for juniors, four for infants and two for reception – and it will provide places for 60 students in reception and year one. Each year, 60 new places will be created, aiming for a total of 420 pupils by 2025.

The academy, which was designed by South Gloucestershire Council and BBA Architects, will include four breakout spaces, a library, kitchen, offices, staffroom and a large hall with a stage. There would also be play facilities outside, such as an outdoor timber classroom with a grass mound amphitheatre and a tepee village outdoor learning area, a multi-use court for netball and tennis and a grass sports pitch.

“There are some really interesting outside features to this scheme which will be fun for our team to build, and even more fun for future students to use,” said Sean Franks, Beard Construction contracts manager.

The primary school is part of Charlton Hayes – a brand-new 2,200- home extension to Patchway. The mixed-use development is named after the village of Charlton, which was demolished in the 1940s to make way for a runway extension at Filton.

“Over the last year we have been working really closely with residents to ensure that the school is at the heart of the community. We are really excited to be opening next year and look forward to welcoming our first cohort,” said Headteacher Neil Lankester.

The school is being run by Endeavour Academy Trust and South Gloucestershire Council awarded the building contract to Beard after a tender process.