Creating Spaces for Aspiration at Robert Smyth Academy
Some projects stay with you long after the final piece is in place, not because of their scale alone, but because of what they represent. Our work with Robert Smyth Academy on their new Science, Mathematics and Business block is one of those projects.
This was a collaboration rooted in shared values: aspiration, opportunity, and a belief that the environments young people learn in truly matter. Being invited to work alongside the Academy and their wider project team on a development six years in the making was a privilege for Witley Jones.
We are all delighted with the final result, and I wouldn’t have any hesitation in recommending Witley Jones to others.”
Andrew Lane at Bellrock Group
A Vision Years in the Making
The opening of the new Lime building marked a major milestone in the Academy’s history. Representing a £6.5 million investment by the Trust and Local Authority, the project stands as a clear statement of confidence in the school’s commitment to helping every student achieve their full potential.
From the very beginning, the vision was clear: to create a building that not only supports outstanding teaching but also inspires the students who walk through its doors each day. A place that reflects hard work, ambition and the pursuit of excellence.
Collaboration at the Heart of the Project
Delivering a project of this scale is never the work of one organisation alone. From early planning through to completion, Witley Jones worked closely with Robert Smyth Academy, the Trust design team, and the wider construction partners to help shape interiors that support modern learning while feeling welcoming, calm and purposeful.
Our role was to contribute to spaces that students and staff would use every day, science labs designed for curiosity and discovery, classrooms that encourage focus and collaboration, and a café space that brings people together
It was a true partnership built on trust, open communication, and a shared desire to do what was right for the students.
Spaces Designed for Learning and Belonging
Stepping into the new building, it’s impossible not to feel the sense of possibility it holds. Light-filled classrooms, thoughtfully designed learning environments, and flexible spaces allow teaching to thrive and students to engage fully with their education.
The Lime Café quickly emerged as the heart of the building. It is a place not just to eat, but to connect. On opening day, it was filled with conversation, excitement, and pride, as students and staff explored the space together for the first time.
Watching the Student Council and Sixth Form Prefects tour the building was a powerful reminder of why these projects matter. Their excitement, their sense of ownership, and their pride in a building created just for them was tangible.
A Community Moment
The official opening brought together governors, staff, councillors, designers, builders and members of the local education community, a true reflection of the collective effort behind the project. When Chair of Governors Kay Goddard cut the ribbon, it marked not just the completion of a building, but the culmination of years of shared commitment and belief in young people.
As the Academy so perfectly expressed, achievements like this only happen when everyone pulls together with the same purpose, championing students, every single day.
The Lime building now stands proudly alongside the original Robert Smyth Academy, a space built to last, and one that will support generations of students as they strive for excellence.
For Witley Jones, we’re incredibly proud to have played a part in this journey. To collaborate with a school so deeply invested in its students, and to help create environments where young people can flourish academically and personally, is at the very heart of what we do. This is more than a new building. It’s a promise to students today and for many years to come, that their potential is worth investing in.
Andrew Lane at Bellrock Group (who have supported all schools across Tudor Grange Academies Trust):
“Witley Jones have been a valued supplier for the Trust for several years and we were delighted to work with them on this project. They were attentive throughout the process, which started some time ago as we engaged with the staff who would be using the new facility.”
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