Groundbreaking Commemorates the Start of Works to Expand High School - Barnes Construction

A groundbreaking event has taken place at Stowmarket High School, where the project team, local councillors, and school representatives gathered to celebrate the formal start of the school’s significant expansion programme. The event marks an important milestone in delivering much-needed additional secondary school places for the growing Stowmarket community.

Barnes Construction has been appointed as main contractor for the scheme, which when completed early in 2027, will deliver a purpose‑built two‑storey teaching block designed to increase the school’s capacity from 900 to 1,200 students, supporting long‑term demand for high‑quality education provision in the area. The new block will accommodate 11 classrooms, a group room, a new hall, and new toilet facilities, enhancing the school’s ability to deliver modern learning environments.

Planning permission for the expansion was secured in September 2025, following earlier public consultation events with Suffolk County Council, Concertus, and school representatives. These consultations provided families and local residents with the opportunity to understand the proposed improvements and give feedback on the planned development

The project has been made possible through Mid Suffolk District Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) investment, alongside additional Section 106 funding, ensuring that local development directly benefits the town’s educational infrastructure. These combined contributions will help the school meet the needs arising from new housing growth across Stowmarket and its surrounding areas.

The new block has been designed by Concertus, who is also providing multi-disciplinary and project management services, and in addition to the new teaching building, the project includes a series of internal improvements across the existing school estate. This will involve the reconfiguration of current teaching and support spaces, including the school’s existing hall and kitchen within the main building, as well as the refurbishment and repurposing of the former sixth‑form block to bring older facilities up to modern standards.

Lucie Hernandez, Headteacher at Stowmarket High School, said:

“This is a tremendously exciting moment for our school. The expansion will allow us to support more local children and families while continuing to provide the high standards of education and care that we are known for. We are very pleased with the progress being made and are looking forward to seeing the project come to life.”

Cllr Andrew Stringer, Mid Suffolk District Council’s cabinet member for heritage, planning and infrastructure, said:

“We recognise that there is a need for more school places in the area.  The £4.8m we have contributed towards this project in CIL funding will not only make a huge difference to hundreds of students and their families but also demonstrates how developer contributions can be reinvested to help local infrastructure keep pace with housing growth.”

Charles Coulson, Associate Director at Concertus, said:

“This groundbreaking event represents a huge amount of hard work by everyone involved. This project will provide the school with much-needed, high-quality, additional accommodation to support their educational delivery and ensure that it provides the best opportunities for the students.”

Andrew Reid, Cabinet Member for Education and SEND at Suffolk County Council, said:

“It is fantastic to see work now underway on this important expansion at Stowmarket High School. Projects like this are vital to ensuring that our children and young people have access to high-quality education close to home, and this investment will not only increase capacity but also provide modern, flexible learning spaces that support both students and staff to thrive for many years to come.”

Damien Kerry, Associate Divisional Director at Barnes Construction, said:

“We are delighted to once again be working with Suffolk County Council and Concertus, to deliver new bespoke additional teaching and learning spaces which will help futureproof the school for years to come.”