John Port Spencer Academy (JPSA) is one of the largest secondary schools in Derbyshire, delivering secondary and post-16 education to more than 2,000 students. Built on the site of a demolished country manor, Etwall Hall, the academy is structured on a ‘green campus’ ethos designed around one of the historic fishing ponds. Faculty buildings are spread across the 19 acre site, set within open green spaces and mature trees and vegetation.
The site is complex, spread over a large area with many buildings as is more common to a university or college campus. The majority of the buildings are standalone and date from the mid 1960’s to early 2000’s. The expansion plans have been developed in a phased approach to lessen the burden on the school as construction work is carried out. These developments give the academy a great opportunity to enhance the core of the school site and promote greater use of the external spaces, building on their green campus ethos.
Thinking Buildings secured outline planning permission for the wider masterplan in 2021 alongside detailed planning consent for the car park. The Post-16 and Science buildings received reserved matters approval in 2022.
The Toyota Science Building is a late 20th-Century building, again spread over two floors. The proposed extension increases the teaching and support spaces, with two new classrooms and a prep room to each floor, with other various support spaces for plant, offices and toilets. The extension also includes a lift to improve accessibility.
