Building for the Future

Witham had the biggest ever investment in secondary education in the area following a decision by central government to secure the funding for two brand new schools for New Rickstones and Maltings Academies.

Each Academy has had its teaching and learning facilities transformed with new building programmes worth over £25 million each on their present sites in Conrad Road and Spinks Lane. Maltings Academy opened for students in September 2011.

A large team worked to replace the old Maltings and New Rickstones buildings with the best that money can buy. Together with the Trust, the two Academies, Braintree District and Essex County Council, the Design User Group embraced leading representatives from national companies. These included Carillion, the building contractor who appointed the design architects; Mott MacDonald, who together managed the whole project; Partnership for Schools, the public body responsible for delivering the Government’s ‘Building Schools for the Future’ programme in the secondary sector; as well as from the Government’s Department for Children, Schools & Families.

Facilities

The new state of the art Maltings Academy site comprises of:

• Sports Hall (with viewing area)
• Multi-purpose activities hall
• Main hall (seating for up to 300)
• Drama studio
• Library
• Large restaurant
• Meeting room
• Dedicated ICT suites
• Technology labratories
• Food technology facility
• Hair dressing salons (with nail treatment facilities)
• Multiple teaching rooms (all with interactive teaching resources)