SECONDARY NEWS
BAM UK & Ireland completes £88m Passivhaus school in West Fife With an assembly hall capable of
A new £88 million Passivhaus secondary school, designed to serve more than 1,700 pupils across west Fife, has officially been handed over to Fife Council, marking the completion of a landmark investment in education for the region. BAM UK & Ireland officially handed over the keys to the new Caledonia High School in Rosyth, which is set to open its doors to pupils in August this year.
Designed and constructed to Passivhaus principles, the new school will be one of the
most energy-efficient schools in the UK, and is expected to use around 75% less energy than a standard UK new-build school, reducing carbon emissions and creating a comfortable and healthy environment for pupils and staff.
BAM UK & Ireland worked in partnership with Fife Council, Hub East Central Scotland and the Scottish Futures Trust, to deliver the new school which will replace Inverkeithing High School. The building has been designed around the needs of modern learners, with fully accessible indoor and outdoor learning spaces that encourage collaboration and interdisciplinary learning.
accommodating 350 pupils, a range of outdoor sports facilities and facilities to enable digital learning, the new building will also be able to support wider community learning and activities. Martin Cooper, BAM Construction Director for Scotland said: “This project demonstrates what can be achieved through strong collaboration and a shared commitment to education, sustainability and community benefit. We are immensely proud to hand over a modern,
inclusive and highly sustainable school that provides inspiring spaces for learning, supports the wider community and will have a lasting positive impact on the area.”
Fife Council’s Education Spokesperson, Councillor Cara Hilton said: “We’re delighted to take ownership of this outstanding new school. Caledonia High School represents a significant investment in the future of our young people and the wider community. “This modern, high-quality learning environment has been designed to support pupils to thrive, and it will serve generations of young people across west Fife.”
New Natural History GCSE to open doors to green careers
A new Natural History GCSE will be a defining moment for environmental education and open the door to green careers for a generation. That was the message from leading education charity Field Studies Council following the Government launch of a public consultation on the proposed qualification. The Field Studies Council, which advised the Government on the development of the new GSCE, said the consultation was recognition that first-hand outdoor experience belongs at the heart of a rigorous, career- relevant education.
Views are being sought from pupils, parents, teachers and industry on proposed subject content covering UK habitats and wildlife, human influences on the natural world, and the science of climate change, biodiversity loss and conservation. Central to the qualification is a minimum of 20 hours of outdoor fieldwork.
Mark Castle, Chief Executive of the Field Studies Council, said: “Young people have been asking for this for a long time and it is good to see the consultation putting a clear focus on fieldwork, including the option of residential trips.
“These are experiences that don’t just teach young people about nature, they connect them to it in a way that shapes their futures. We know from
decades of experience that it is often just one day – or one week – outdoors that sparks a lifelong passion and opens the door to a career in the natural world.”
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “This new GCSE will help students build a strong understanding of the natural world, alongside the knowledge, skills and hands-on experience to access careers in some of the UK’s fastest growing sectors.”
With around 900 UK businesses in nature-related sectors raising £2.8 billion in 2025 and supporting 21,000 jobs, the Field Studies Council says the qualification’s emphasis on practical skills – including data collection, statistical analysis and species identification – directly mirrors what employers in environmental science, conservation and land management are looking for.
The Field Studies Council is encouraging schools, educators and the wider sector to respond to the consultation, which runs until September 4, and says it will be making a full submission of its own. The consultation is live here:
uwww.gov.uk/government/consultations/gcse-natural-history- proposed-subject-content
Morgan Sindall Construction completes expansion project at Rushcliffe Spencer Academy
Morgan Sindall Construction’s Midlands business has expanded Rushcliffe Spencer Academy’s C block on behalf of Spencer Academy Trust and Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC). In total, the expansion has created 450 secondary school places and 110 sixth form places to cater for growing demand for school places in the area.
The £32 million expansion project delivered a comprehensive transformation of the school’s facilities, including the construction of a new building with modern classrooms, a central hallway, and office spaces; demolition of the existing leisure centre; and refurbishment of the Notts Gymnastics Academy building.
The works also encompassed remedial fire safety upgrades to existing structures and extensive external improvements, such as a new all-weather sports pitch, relocation of the 5-a-side pitch, car park redesign, and creation of new bus drop-off facilities, all aimed at enhancing the school’s infrastructure and improving the overall
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experience for students and staff. Richard
Fielding, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction’s Midlands Business, said: “It has been a privilege to
work with the Spencer Academy Trust, the Council and the local community, including students and parents, to establish priorities and needs. Through clear communication and protocols, we have been able to let students continue with their education without disruption. We’re delighted to celebrate the completion of this important project and the positive impact it will have on the community.”
July/August 2026
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