Ground broken on new primary school at Valley Park, Didcot

A special ground-breaking ceremony has marked the start of construction of the first new primary school at Valley Park, the major new community being delivered through a joint venture between Persimmon Homes Wessex and Taylor Wimpey Southern Counties.

The developers were joined on site by Cllr Emily Smith, Vale of White Horse District Council Cabinet Member for Planning, along with representatives from Oxfordshire County Council, Omnia Learning Trust, and Sires Hill and Didcot Primary Academies to celebrate this important milestone. Representatives from Barnwood Construction, the contractor delivering the new school, were also in attendance.

The new school forms a key element of the northern phase of Valley Park and represents a significant step forward in delivering high-quality community infrastructure as part of the wider 4,254-home development. The three-form entry primary school will include a nursery and community-use spaces, and has been designed to meet net-zero carbon operation at handover in line with Oxfordshire County Council’s Climate Emergency Framework.

Located adjacent to Common Park and the Local Centre, the school will benefit from excellent accessibility through green corridors, pedestrian-friendly pathways, and cycle routes. The building has been designed with sustainability, wellbeing and community integration at its core.

Key design features include a spacious 3.01-hectare site incorporating sports pitches, outdoor play areas, and staff and visitor parking; net-zero carbon operation supported by solar panels, air-source heat pumps and an energy-efficient design; enhanced habitat and outdoor learning with native planting, habitat areas and a forest school; and safe and inclusive access with multiple pedestrian and cycle routes linking pupils and the wider community.

Commenting on the start of construction, Seb Spiller, Managing Director of Persimmon Homes Wessex, said:

“We are delighted to celebrate the ground-breaking of the first new primary school at our Valley Park site in Didcot. This marks an important milestone in our vision for Valley Park – building opportunities, connections, and futures for our residents and the wider community. As the first school to be delivered on the development, it will set the standard for the excellent facilities and strong sense of community we aim to foster across the scheme.”

Noel Staunton, Managing Director for Taylor Wimpey Southern Counties, said:

“Today’s ceremony reflects the strong partnership behind the Valley Park project and our shared commitment to creating a sustainable and inclusive new community. The new primary school will be a central asset for families, providing high-quality facilities in an environment designed to support children’s learning and wellbeing. We are proud to be working alongside Persimmon, the local authorities and our delivery partners to bring forward this vital piece of social infrastructure.”

Cllr Emily Smith, Cabinet Member for Planning, Vale of White Horse District Council, said:

“It is fantastic to see work starting on the first new primary school at Valley Park. The council has been clear from the outset that new housing must be supported by high-quality infrastructure, and this school is a great example of that principle in action. This is an important step towards establishing a vibrant, well-connected community with excellent facilities for local families.”

Chris Dyer, Head of Service, Transport & Property Infrastructure Delivery, Oxfordshire County Council, said:

“We welcome the start of construction on this new primary school, which will provide much-needed capacity for the growing community at Valley Park. Designed to be net-zero carbon in operation, the school supports our Climate Emergency Framework and demonstrates our commitment to sustainable, future-proof educational provision across Oxfordshire.”

Jodie Croft, CEO of Omnia Learning Trust, said:

“We are delighted to be part of this significant moment for the Valley Park community. This brand new school will offer children a modern, nurturing, and inspiring environment in which to learn and grow, and an exciting opportunity for children to belong to our aspirational group of schools in Didcot and the wider area.

“Our website will launch early in 2026, and we will take expressions of interest for our Reception class and applications for our nursery, for children from 2 years of age, to start in September 2027. We look forward to meeting local families in the near future as we embark on this exciting journey together.”

Alison Ashcroft, representing Sires Hill and Didcot Primary Academies, said:

“This groundbreaking marks the start of a wonderful opportunity for children and families in Valley Park. The new school will provide excellent facilities and a strong foundation for learning, enabling pupils to thrive academically and personally. We are excited to support the development of a vibrant and inclusive school community.”

Stuart Pearce, Joint Managing Director for Barnwood Ltd, said:

“We are proud to be delivering this exciting new school for the Valley Park community. Our team is committed to constructing a high-quality, energy-efficient building that reflects the project’s strong sustainability ambitions and provides an inspiring environment for pupils and staff. We look forward to working closely with Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey, and the wider project partners as the build progresses.”

Valley Park is a key strategic development for the local authority, Persimmon, and Taylor Wimpey. The development will deliver significant local investment, including over £20 million for two new primary schools, £9 million for secondary education provision, £15.2 million for highway improvements, £3.6 million for public transport, and additional investment in a new healthcare facility.

Construction of the primary school marks the beginning of a transformative programme of community infrastructure that will support families at Valley Park for generations to come.