New classrooms and science ‘super lab’ open at Alderwood School

School staff, representatives from Hampshire County Council and other key stakeholders recently came together to celebrate the new building, which opened earlier this month for the new academic year. As well as providing high-quality facilities to enhance teaching and learning, the extension creates vitally needed school places to support Aldershot’s growing community, including the nearby Wellesley development.  

Councillor Juliet Henderson, Hampshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “This extension is about much more than a new building. It provides inspiring places where pupils can ask questions, explore new interests and develop the skills they need for the future. I am delighted that this investment will enable Alderwood School to welcome 300 more pupils, supporting the needs of Aldershot’s growing community.”   

Alderwood School is an all-through school spread across three sites, comprising an infant, junior and senior school. The £14.1 million extension to the senior site brings the school’s total number of places to 1,150, helping to ensure there are sufficient places in the local area as the Wellesley development continues to grow. 

The project was designed and project managed by Hampshire County Council’s in-house Property Services team and delivered on site by construction partner Morgan Sindall. It includes five general teaching classrooms, three new science classrooms, four specialist classrooms and six refurbished science classrooms.  

The new building also includes energy-efficient features, such as solar panels and a natural ventilation heat recovery (NVHR) system. In winter NVHR reduces heating demand through heat recovery and in the summer purges unwanted heat, particularly overnight so that classrooms remain more comfortable during occupied hours. The wider investment has provided furniture, equipment and IT for the new and improved teaching spaces, as well as additional cycle storage and improvements to areas around the building.   

Andrew Titheridge, Executive Headteacher of Alderwood School, said: “These new facilities are already making a real difference to teaching and learning at Alderwood School. Pupils have been excited to start using the new classrooms and specialist science spaces, which will support practical learning, encourage curiosity and create new opportunities. I would like to thank our pupils, staff and families for their patience while the work was taking place, as well as everyone who helped bring the project to life.”