A major milestone for Whitehaven's £30 million education campus has been celebrated as construction work is under way.

Children, teachers and funders marked the momentous occasion for St Benedict's and Mayfield schools at a celebration this morning.

Youngsters tightened bolts on the first part of the steel structure of the new St Benedict's School .

Work is expected to start on the structure of Mayfield next week.

The campus, which is on the St Benedict's site, is set to open next September.

It aims to provide purpose-built facilities for both schools and improve the social interaction of students from all backgrounds.

Ian Smith, St Benedict's headteacher, said: "I'm honoured and I feel quite humbled by the achievements of everyone to get us to this point."


He said this is a huge investment for the whole community.

"I have always felt that it's the people that count. However, I know that a state-of-the-art facility can inspire students.

"I'm particularly excited at the prospect of working alongside and in partnership with Mayfield and I think we will develop a super mutually beneficial relationship between the two schools."

Gillian Temple, headteacher of Mayfield, said: "It brings our dream of a new school into a reality. It's fantastic to bring the children to see the work being done."

All Mayfield pupils will be visiting the construction site on Monday.

Also celebrating were students from both schools who visited the construction site with officials.

Anna Woolaghan, Year 9 pupil at St Benedict's said: "It's brilliant. We are
getting really high tech equipment. It'll bring the community together."

The two schools will be in two blocks which will be linked by a central block for both. There will be new access onto Moresby Road and Red Lonning.

The scheme also includes new sports pitches, facilities, parking and landscaping on the site.

Over the past few months, major work has been underway to make the site accessible and ready for construction work.

The £30 million investment for the campus comes from a range of partners including the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Sellafield Ltd, and the county council.

Paul Vallance, the NDA’s director of communication and stakeholder relations said: "This is a hugely significant moment for the area.

"Campus Whitehaven will help the community take its future into its own hands by providing an inspirational learning environment for young people, helping them to take advantage of employment opportunities.

"It will also be an important asset for the whole community, offering access to top-class sports facilities and lifelong learning with potential to improve the lives of thousands of local people.


He thanked everyone for the hard work and said he looks forward to seeing the Campus grow to completion in the coming months.

Coun David Southward, Cumbria County Council cabinet member for economic development, said: "This is a moment to celebrate, we’re now seeing the bricks and mortar realisation of what was once just an idea. There’s been a huge amount of work by all the partners to get to this point and it’s genuinely exciting to think about this Campus will do for local young people and the area as a whole. I’m very much looking forward to seeing the build take shape!"

Copeland Community Fund is investing money for the provision of new, accessible, community sports facilities on the campus site.

David Moore, chair of the board, said: "The Fund is delighted to see such visible progress towards the achievement of a new Campus. Through our £3m investment, our focus as a Fund is on the provision of new, accessible, community sports facilities on the campus site."

The project is being backed by community leaders.

Mayor of Copeland, Mike Starkie, said: "I’m proud to help mark this exciting milestone in a state-of-the-art project that will be transformational for the lives of so many young people in our community for generations to come."

For the Catholic Diocese of Lancaster and Chair of the Lancaster Diocesan Trustees, Bishop Michael Campbell OSA, said: "The Lancaster Diocesan trustees and I are delighted that the Diocese is part of this exciting initiative investing in our young people - central to and developing upon our vision for the formation of the whole person with the best possible facilities to assist this .”

Wates Construction said it was privileged to be able to deliver this exciting project.

It is intended that the existing St Benedict’s will be kept during construction.

Once the new-build is open, there are proposals to demolish the former St Benedict’s and Mayfield buildings.