New school could face further delays

Parents who previously faced significant delays due to construction issues at Exeter's new Matford Brook Academy are now dealing with another anxious wait for the school's completion date.

Located on the southern edge of Exeter in the new Haldon Reach development, the academy was initially set to open in September 2023.

However, foundation problems led the Department for Education (DfE) to announce just three months before the planned opening that the building wouldn't be ready. This left parents scrambling to find alternative schools or send their children to a temporary location at St Luke's Church of England School. Matford Brook Academy, managed by the Ted Wragg Trust, is designed to serve students from nursery to age 16. It opened last September at its temporary site with fewer students than expected. Initially, it was meant to accept nursery, preschool, reception, and Year 7 students, but due to space constraints at St Luke's, only Year 7 students were admitted. Other students had to enroll elsewhere.

The trust has now informed parents that a recent inspection of the Trood Lane site revealed the need for further work and additional compliance checks, which are standard for such projects. As a precaution, the feasibility of temporary accommodation is also being assessed. Parents have been promised a definitive update by June 13. The building remains under the control of the DfE and its contractors. A DfE spokesperson stated, “We monitor construction of all new school buildings to ensure they are of high quality. Construction is ongoing at Matford Brook school, and we are in close contact with the local authority and the Ted Wragg Trust.”

Additionally, parents have been informed of a change in leadership due to headteacher Emily Simpson-Horne being on long-term leave. An acting headteacher has been appointed. In a letter dated May 16, Tim Rutherford, deputy CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust, and Hannah Rose, acting headteacher, expressed their excitement about the progress and reassured parents of their commitment. They mentioned that further works and compliance checks were required following a routine site inspection and emphasised that these measures are precautionary.

They assured parents that they are exploring all options, including temporary accommodation, to avoid delays. They hope to move staff to the new site in July and students in September, thanking parents for their continued support.

The academy will feature state-of-the-art facilities, including a theatre with raked seating, an activity studio, a spacious learning and resources centre, two recreational halls, and a dedicated dining hall. Sports facilities will include a four-court sports hall, a large 3G artificial turf pitch, netball courts, a full-sized football pitch, a cricket square, a rugby pitch, a 400m athletics track, an outdoor learning environment with a woodland area, a multi-use games area (MUGA), parking, and amenity space.

The Ted Wragg Trust's bid to open the school was approved by the DfE in 2016, and the completed building will cover approximately 9,196 sqm, accommodating 59 nursery places, 630 primary students, and 750 secondary students, with extensive community use opportunities.