Site Announced For Outwood Academy Riverside

A new free school due to open in Middlesbrough in September has announced the location of its temporary home.

Outwood Academy Riverside was announced after the Department for Education approved an application from Outwood Grange Academies Trust for an 11 to 16 academy, based in the Middlehaven area of Middlesbrough, adjacent to Middlesbrough College. 

The academy will provide the local community with the benefits of a new state-of-the-art building once it is completed in 2023. 

Alex Howe, Principal designate of Outwood Academy Riverside, said:

“The latest developments have been exciting for all of us at the Outwood Family, as we look forward to opening our doors to students in September.

“Our permanent home is to be situated next to the Middlesbrough College site and is in a fantastic position to be central to the rejuvenation within the Middlehaven area.”

Prior to 2023, Outwood Academy Riverside will be based at a temporary home at 100 Russell Street while its permanent home is under construction.

Alex added:

“As you can imagine, in order to house up to 450 students, we need to take much into account and we are delighted to have found the perfect site. Our temporary site is an existing building positioned between the permanent site and the town centre.

“The temporary site will be refurbished to a very good standard and we will work directly with the Department for Education to ensure that the building is fit for purpose. 

“We are hopeful that the work will be completed prior to the end of the holiday and contingencies are in place to ensure that we open to students on Wednesday 2nd September in line with other Outwood northern academies.

“At Outwood, we always work hard to put students first, raise standards and transform lives. We are excited to continue this at Outwood Academy Riverside and work with the local authority and local community to help children reach their full potential.” 

The announcement has been positively met by members of the local community.

Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston said: “This is fantastic news, and a great step forward in the creation of a new school that will shape lives for years to come.

“It’s going to have a massive impact on the local community, and will play a really important role in the next phase of regeneration in Middlehaven.

“Congratulations to Outwood on a major achievement for the whole town.”

A spokesperson for Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation said: “Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation is delighted that Outwood Academy will be opening a Free School in Middlehaven, from September 2020. 

“The Foundation works across Teesside, working with many schools and community groups to ‘inspire confidence and inspire hope’ in young people and adults. We are looking forward to working with Outwood Academy, to inspire students to widen their horizons and raise aspirations.” 

A spokesperson for Middlesbrough College said: “Middlesbrough College is delighted to hear that Outwood Academy Riverside will be open and operational this year in advance of the new school being constructed adjacent to the College.

“We have already built strong partnership links with the school and look forward to developing these further as the new staff and management team settles in and the new year 7 students join the Outwood group this September. 

“Middlehaven as an area is really going places at the moment and we are excited to be building strong links with the school and local employers, particularly in the digital field.  

“We are really thrilled that things are moving forward so positively and can’t wait to welcome our new neighbours to Middlehaven!”