New Secondary School Coming to Tadpole Garden Village

Award-winning developer, Crest Nicholson and the Education Funding Agency have announced plans to bring new learning opportunities to Tadpole Garden Village in north Swindon.

The Agency will fund the development of a secondary school, Great Western Academy, which will be set up by New College Swindon, a leading Further Education College.

The 14.5 acre site acquired by the Education Funding Agency is currently disused commercial space to the north east of the existing Crest Nicholson development, Tadpole Garden Village. The Great Western Academy will be a free school and is scheduled to open in September 2018.

Graham Taylor, Principal at New College Swindon, said: “We are delighted that the Government has moved swiftly to secure the land and look forward to working with top-class project managers, designers and builders to deliver a high quality, state-of-the art digital and business academy.

We aim to deliver a great school for learners to enjoy and achieve in. The educational planning begins now – to attract the best staff, develop the best curriculum, source the best learning materials and provide the best support systems to meet learner needs. We want to involve parents, businesses, local community groups and universities on our journey. I know local parents will be disappointed that it’s not opening sooner but it’s now going to happen for sure.

We are delighted that Crest Nicolson has been able to provide such a great site and are looking forward to working in partnership to deliver the new school, which will contribute to the great work they are doing in building a sustainable community at Tadpole Garden Village.”

Andrew Dobson, Development Director, Crest Nicholson Strategic Projects, said: “We are excited to be working with the Education Funding Agency and New College to welcome a new secondary school at Tadpole Garden Village, which we hope will provide outstanding learning opportunities for generations of youngsters living at Tadpole Garden Village and the wider North Swindon community.

“We are proud of what we are creating at Tadpole Garden Village, which has set benchmarks in design, community life and infrastructure. The development is a great example of our commitment to build healthy and sustainable communities that adhere to our Garden Village Principles, providing a sense of ownership and responsibility.

The delivery of New College will further develop a sense of civic pride and legacy at Tadpole Garden Village, continuing the work we are doing to create a place that people are proud to call home.”

Tadpole Garden Village is a Garden Village for the 21st Century set within an abundance of quiet, tranquil and open countryside, with spectacular panoramic views of where the Wiltshire Downs meets the Cotswolds.

Surrounded by beautiful open farmland and adjacent to a nature reserve, once completed Tadpole Garden Village will incorporate 149 acres of green space, playing fields and allotments including a new town park, eight children’s play areas and a common for all to enjoy.

For more information visit www.crestnicholson.com/tadpolegateattadpolegardenvillage.