Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for Oasis Academy Daventry Road

A groundbreaking ceremony was held today for Oasis Academy Daventry Road, highlighting a significant milestone in the project to deliver a much-needed new secondary school in Knowle West, South Bristol. The event was organised in partnership with the Wates Group, the UK’s leading family-owned development, building, and property maintenance company.

Previously home to the former Merrywood School, Oasis Academy Daventry Road’s state of the art facilities will include an activity studio, sports hall, sports pitches and multi-use games area. The project was led by Rebecca Stepek, Project Manager at OCL, working closely with Wates.

The ceremony was attended by representatives from the Department for Education, Arcadis, Oasis, Park Community Centre and Wates. The event was also attended by Counsellor Cam Hayward and Counsellor Toby Wells. Students who attend the academy were also invited to the ceremony, as well as parents

Speeches were given by Mark Craig, Managing Director for South at Wates Construction, Simon Shaw, Head of School and John Barneby, CEO of Oasis Community Learning.

Our CEO, John Barneby, said: “We are thrilled to celebrate a significant milestone today in delivering a much-needed new secondary school for families in South Bristol. Oasis is committed to ensuring this academy provides exceptional education in the heart of this local community, providing each young person the best choice and opportunity to flourish both in school, and beyond.”

Mark Craig, Regional Managing Director at Wates said: “It was a delight to celebrate this groundbreaking ceremony today and we are proud to contribute to boosting education opportunities for students in Bristol. At Wates, we take pride in the quality of our work and the positive impact it has not only on the communities we serve but the benefits it has on the environment. It has been a pleasure to celebrate the exciting opportunities this school will have to offer to future generations to come.”

At the moment, the academy is operating on a temporary site, accommodating students in Years 7-8, until the permanent site is completed. 

The new Oasis Academy Daventry Road is forecasted to open in 2026.