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Economic Development

Willmott Dixon wins £19 million University of Birmingham training school project

Construction group handed brief to design one of º£½ÇÊÓÆµ's first university training schools which aims to improve educational practice

A computer generated image of the new University of Birmingham school which is being built by Willmott Dixon

Construction company Willmott Dixon has won the brief to build a new £19 million education hub for the University of Birmingham.

The firm, whose Midlands operation is based in Coleshill, will construct a new school and sixth form college for the institute in Weoley Park Road, Selly Oak.

The complex will be one of the first university training schools in the º£½ÇÊÓÆµ, an 'lab school' initiative modelled on similar projects in Finland and the US where innovative educational ideas are trialled.

As well as providing a broad academic curriculum, the university training school will provide initial and ongoing teacher training and research into improving educational practice.

The new facility has been designed by Birmingham-based Associated Architects and will comprise standard classrooms alongside subject-specific and innovation rooms.

Each school year will have its own teaching cluster grouped around a three-storey central atrium which will house the dining area and provide access to the physical activity and group gathering spaces.

The sixth form will also have space in part of an existing adjacent building which will be refurbished by Willmott Dixon as part of the contract.

Work to clear the site in preparation for the construction of the new school was carried out last summer with the demolition of a number of existing redundant buildings.