Just days after The Wellington Academy won a national Partnerships for Schools award for best BSF Academy, it also celebrated the start of work on its new buildings. The turf cutting ceremony was attended by over 100 guests, including students and staff from the academy as well as representatives from many of the organisations which have been involved with the project - Wiltshire Council, Place Group, construction company Kier, and the Academy’s sponsor, Wellington College.

Final approval and confirmation of the £32 million funding for the construction project was given by the Department of Children, Schools and Families in September 2009. The new academy will include a theatre, a full floodlit all-weather sports pitch and the latest ICT facilities throughout its buildings. Boarding for up to 100 students, and facilities for a Combined Cadet Force will also be available.

The academy will be built adjacent to the old Castledown School buildings and will be completed in Spring 2011. Once the new school buildings are complete, students will move in and the old school buildings will be demolished to make way for the sports pitch.

Commenting on the occasion, The Wellington Academy’s Principal Andy Schofield said, "Our students are very excited to see the building work get underway. They know they'll be working in the new academy during the next academic year. I am delighted with the plans, which will enable us to achieve many of the things we've dreamt of.”