Construction company Kier has received a contract from the UK’s Department for Education (DfE) to redevelop Oak Academy in Bournemouth, Dorset.

The existing buildings on the site will be replaced by a new campus design for the 900-pupil secondary school.

Upgrades include various learning spaces, including science and technology classrooms, along with enhanced facilities for covering sport, music, drama, and special educational needs and disabilities provisions.

Leveraging Kier’s 'kSchool' design platform, the building has been designed with an H-shaped layout that revolves around an open dining space with glazed elevations and adjacent courtyards.

The building will be configured to enable a wider community to utilise the school hall, sports hall, and changing facilities after hours.

Oak Academy will operate as a net-zero entity, in accordance with the latest output specification requirements of the DfE.

The thermally efficient building will leverage air-source heat pump technology and will also have a fully solar roof with photovoltaic panels.

The project is being financially supported by the DfE's 'school rebuilding programme', which was introduced in 2020. It aims to address the rebuilding or renovation of 500 schools in the country.

Kier Construction's operations director for London & Southern Mark Norris said: “We are delighted to be appointed by the Department for Education to create a new home for Oak Academy, one which will deliver improved, sustainable facilities for students, staff and the community.

“This innovative net-zero carbon in operation project will combine improved facilities under one roof, making more efficient use of the site’s footprint and allow the school to increase its student and staff intake.”