SECONDARY NEWS Pupils settling in at transformed Stratford upon Avon School
Students at Stratford upon Avon School have almost completed a full term in their brand-new facilities, delivered as part of a £20 million investment by Warwickshire County Council.
Regional contractor Speller Metcalfe completed the large-scale expansion, which has increased the school’s capacity by 300 places over the five-year groups, and created a modern, inspiring learning environment for pupils and staff.
Warwickshire County Councillor Wayne Briggs, Portfolio Holder for Education, said: “The transformation at Stratford upon Avon School provides cutting-edge facilities that will support pupils to excel academically, develop their talents, and prepare for future opportunities. This project demonstrates our dedication to creating sustainable, high- quality learning environments for generations to come.” The redevelopment has delivered a series of three three-storey wings and a two-storey wing adjoining the main buildings, which now house state- of-the-art science laboratories, a purpose-built dance and drama studio with retractable seating, music rooms, and enhanced facilities to support students with additional needs.
Pupils also benefit from a specialist design and technology unit and upgraded recreational spaces, and new sixth form study space - all designed to support both academic achievement and wellbeing. The addition of three-storey classroom blocks and a range of modern teaching areas will allow the school to welcome hundreds of extra students in the years ahead, supporting the growing demand for secondary places in the region.
Mark Hudgeon, Regional Director at Speller Metcalfe, said: “Seeing pupils and staff already making the most of these new facilities is what makes projects like this so rewarding.”
Externally, the school is also benefitting from a new access road for school and bus pick-up and drop-off points, as well as additional parking and cycle spaces.
The project was procured through the Constructing West Midlands Framework and designed with sustainability in mind, incorporating energy-efficient systems and modern building techniques to reduce long- term running costs.
Larry Lamb goes back to school as Samsung’s flagship education programme returns
by 2030.
Soohyun Jessie Park, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Samsung Electronics UK, said: “From this year we’re building on our commitment to school-aged children and young people by expanding opportunities to access skills workshops, mentoring from Samsung, and winning tech prizes and work experience opportunities. We’re passionate about giving young people a platform to have their say. Winners of the competition will have their ideas showcased on Samsung’s national platforms – including the iconic Piccadilly Circus screen, national radio, and social media – amplifying youth-led innovation to audiences across the UK and Ireland.”
Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is a free education programme that challenges students aged 11 to 18 in secondary schools and colleges across the UK and Ireland to solve real-world problems using curiosity, creativity and technology.
With tech prizes, work experience opportunities, and the chance to showcase student ideas on the iconic Piccadilly Circus screen, it’s a national tech-for-good competition designed to spark innovation in every classroom.
To mark the launch, Samsung teamed up with actor and presenter Larry Lamb, sending him back to school to explore how creativity and innovation can unlock new ways of thinking across generations. Lamb said: “I’ll be honest, it caught me off guard at how inspiring some of these young people are. I didn’t have access to competitions like Samsung Solve for Tomorrow when I was younger, and as I’m older, I find myself wishing initiatives like this were available to me. I started the day with a pretty clear idea of what I thought young people did in school, but that completely changed when I saw the incredible impact they’re capable of making.”
Since launching in 2020, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow has already reached more than 265,600 young people across the UK and Ireland. This year, the programme aims to go even further, accelerating progress toward Samsung’s goal of positively impacting 1 million young people
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www.education-today.co.uk
This year, students will be challenged to come up with ideas that use technology to make a positive impact on their communities across three themes: • Smarter sport - Tech that makes sport more fun, inclusive and helps everyone to perform at their best
• Greener future - Tech that protects our planet and helps us live more sustainable lives
• Safer online - Tech that keeps us connected, confident and in control
Student teams will pitch their tech-for-good solutions to a judging panel of Samsung employees and industry experts, with winners announced in 2026. Finalists will benefit from tech prizes and work experience to national recognition on Samsung’s iconic national platforms. Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is free to access and designed for flexible classroom delivery in PSHE, DT, STEM or enrichment sessions. It supports Gatsby Benchmarks 4, 5 and 6, helping teachers embed careers education, employer engagement and real-world learning into the curriculum – without adding to workload.
Applications are now open for 11 to 18-year-olds across the UK and Ireland to take part in Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow competition. Visit
SolveforTomorrowUK.com to find out how schools can get involved and access free educational resources.
December 2025
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