Matford Brook Academy, a £31 million school in Exeter, Devon, is scheduled for demolition without ever having taught a single pupil. Built in 2021 and opened two years later, the school was never used for teaching due to major structural issues. The Department for Education (DfE) determined that the building cannot be repaired because of “fundamental issues” with its foundations, leading to the decision to knock it down.
Structural Failures and Temporary Measures
An independent review found that the building failed to meet required standards. Pupils will continue to receive lessons in temporary accommodation until at least 2028. The DfE stated that demolition and rebuild is the “most practical way forward.” The academy is part of the Ted Wragg Trust and not directly overseen by Devon County Council, which confirmed that work is underway to appoint an experienced contractor for the rebuild.
Local and Political Reaction
Locals expressed frustration at the waste of public funds. Nursery worker Karina Kol, 33, said: “It is quite sad that all the country had to spend so much money on that and now the school is being demolished.” Clinical psychologist Rhys Cadogon, 36, added: “It's ridiculous. The fact they've spent so much money on this. It makes me think who's in charge of the finances. It feels like cowboys running the show... When you see money just literally being binned, it feels really frustrating.”
Mechanic Clive Wyeth, 56, noted that the site had already experienced subsidence: “When we first moved in two and a half years ago, they were still through the process of being developed. But that was a second rebuild because it collapsed the first time around. It subsided. The ground was not set hard enough.”
Political Criticism and DfE Response
Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride criticized the situation, telling the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “While I welcome the fact staff, parents and pupils now have more clarity on the future of the school building, serious questions need to be answered about how a brand-new building could be deemed unfit before it has even been used.”
A DfE spokesperson said: “The safety of children is our top priority, which is why we are rebuilding the school. Pupils are currently being taught in temporary accommodation and we are working closely with the school to ensure there is no disruption to pupils' day-to-day education.” The DfE confirmed that a contractor with a “strong track record” would be appointed for the rebuild.
Matford Brook Academy stated that expansion of temporary accommodation would be completed by September to provide additional purpose-built spaces. A spokesperson added: “Throughout this process, our priority has always been the wellbeing and education of our pupils, and that remains unchanged. A school is about far more than its buildings, it is the people who bring it to life every day.”
