National contractor GRAHAM has reached the topping out milestone at Oasis Academy Temple Quarter, a new state-of-the-art secondary school in Bristol.
The achievement was marked with a ceremony on the Silverthorne Lane site on 17 June. During the ceremony, Richard James, Principal of Oasis Academy Temple Quarter along with six pupils and three Department for Education representatives each signed an engraved plaque. The ten plaques were carefully set into the concrete foundation, ensuring their presence is permanently embedded within the new building for generations to come.
The scheme, being spearheaded by the Department of Education, will provide a new mainstream high school in the heart of Bristol’s Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone. It will serve communities across East and Central Bristol.
Designed to accommodate 1,600 pupils, the development includes a modern main school building alongside the conversion of a smaller listed building. The latter is being transformed into a new purpose-built sports hall.
Construction work began on site in September 2025, with the permanent academy building scheduled to open in September 2027.
Upon completion, the school will provide an inspiring learning environment, combining specialist teaching spaces with facilities that promote positive student wellbeing.
The academy also forms part of the wider Bristol Temple Quarter masterplan, one of the UK’s largest regeneration projects. This will see the development of residential, commercial, research, and student accommodation in the surrounding area.
Peter Reavey, Regional Director at GRAHAM, said: “Topping out is always a proud moment for everyone involved, and it’s fantastic to get stakeholders together to celebrate the progress made so far.
“Since breaking ground last year, our team has worked tirelessly to deliver a quality building that facilitates learning and development, as well as wellbeing and safeguarding.
“When the academy opens its doors in 2027, it will give generations of young people in Bristol access to an outstanding learning environment, and this is something we are truly proud to be part of.”
Speaking at the ceremony, Principal of Oasis Academy Temple Quarter, Richard James, reflected on the significance of the milestone, saying:
“In the Oasis 2030 vision, we talk about reimagining ceilings not as limits, but as the floors on which future generations will stand. So, although today marks a topping out ceremony, it feels far more like the beginning than the end. Completing this stage of the build brings us one step closer to a state-of-the-art academy that will act as a bridge between our community and the wider city.
Standing on the fourth floor, it’s impossible not to be inspired by the views across Bristol, from the new university campus to the growing innovation of the Temple Quarter. Our next task is to turn those views into real opportunities: partnerships, experiences and pathways that connect our students, families and community to the developments happening on our doorstep. This building represents possibility, and we are excited for what it will unlock for the generations to come.”
