{"success":true,"data":{"id":"9850e9d8-cc23-4251-86c3-710b97e7012d","title":"‘State-of-the-art’ £31m school to be demolished without being used by pupils","summary":"Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. Not now Yes please US Edition Change Support Now × \"Clear search box\") Custom Search Sort by Relevance Date NewsNews World CupWorld Cup SportsSports CultureCulture LifestyleLifestyle MoneyMon...","content":"## Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent\n\nNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.\n\nNot now Yes please\n\nUS Edition Change\n\nSupport Now\n\n[×](javascript:void(0) \"Clear search box\")\n\nCustom Search\n\nSort by\n\nRelevance\n\nDate\n\n*   News[News](https://www.independent.co.uk/us)\n\n*   World Cup[World Cup](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup)\n\n*   Sports[Sports](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport)\n\n*   Culture[Culture](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment)\n\n*   Lifestyle[Lifestyle](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style)\n\n*   Money[Money](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/money)\n\n*   Travel[Travel](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/travel)\n\n*   Premium[Premium](https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium)\n\nMore\n\nMore\n\n### Thank you for registering\n\nPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in\n\n# ‘State-of-the-art’ £31m school to be demolished without being used by pupils\n\n## Matford Brook Academy students will continue to use ‘village’ of temporary classrooms until at least 2028\n\n[Alex Ross](https://www.independent.co.uk/author/alex-ross)Saturday 11 July 2026 17:40 BST\n\n*   Copy link  \n*   Bookmark  \n*   [64 Comments](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/matford-brook-academy-school-exeter-devon-demolished-safety-b3010287.html#comments-area)Go to comments  \n\n## Bookmark popover\n\nRemoved from bookmarks\n\nClose popover\n\nopen image in gallery\n\nMatford Brook Academy was finished in 2023, but problems have meant it has remained closed to students – now it will be rebuilt(Google)\n\n### Your support helps us to tell the story\n\nFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.\n\nAt such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.\n\nThe Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.\n\n**Your support makes all the difference.**\n\nA new “state-of-the-art” [school](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/school) built for more than 1,450 children but never used is to be demolished because of structural issues.\n\nMatford Brook Academy, in Exeter, was set to be opened for classes three years ago, but delays have forced the leaders to set up a “village” of temporary classrooms next to the school site.\n\nNow, parents have been told by the school that a review has found the permanent [building](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/building) “does not meet the required building standards in its current form” and will need to be rebuilt.\n\nThe decision was made by the [Department for Education](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/department-for-education), which brought in construction firm Kier Group to investigate after the collapse of primary contractor ISG in 2024. A new contractor will now be appointed to deliver the rebuild.\n\nThe school building was valued at £30.6m by construction sales firm Glenigan, [according to](https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/buildings/isg-ess-school-building-to-be-demolished-over-significant-structural-issues-30-06-2026/)_Construction News_.\n\nUndo\n\nUndo\n\n[](https://promopage.net/bbd95519-b28b-45c8-ae05-92fc5b5bbaf2)[Rub This 1 Mineral on Your Feet To Help Reduce Swelling Morning Vitality | [Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=eslmedia-theindependent&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=alternating-thumbnails-stream-1x4:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails%20II:)[Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=eslmedia-theindependent&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=alternating-thumbnails-stream-1x4:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails%20II:)](https://promopage.net/bbd95519-b28b-45c8-ae05-92fc5b5bbaf2 \"Rub This 1 Mineral on Your Feet To Help Reduce Swelling\")\n\nUndo\n\n[](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/matford-brook-academy-school-exeter-devon-demolished-safety-b3010287.html)[Let ADT set up security while you settle in ADT | [Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=eslmedia-theindependent&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=alternating-thumbnails-stream-1x4:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails%20II:)[Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=eslmedia-theindependent&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=alternating-thumbnails-stream-1x4:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails%20II:)](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/matford-brook-academy-school-exeter-devon-demolished-safety-b3010287.html \"Let ADT set up security while you settle in\")\n\nUndo\n\nIn the letter to parents, Tim Rutherford, deputy chief executive of Ted Wragg Multi-Academy Trust, which runs the school, and Emily Simpson-Horne, headteacher of the school, said: “Although this is not the news we had hoped for, and we understand that you may be disappointed, it does provide a clear way forward for our community.\n\n“Whilst there is still much detail to understand, we’re pleased to now have a path forward towards our next chapter, and which results in the best school possible.”\n\nIn the meantime, the school is expanding its collection of temporary buildings to meet the growing number of pupils from September. It has been reported that pupils will remain in the temporary buildings until at least 2028.\n\nBird’s-eye images of the school, which sits within a new housing estate, show the permanent building blocks surrounded by walls, with the temporary site next to it.\n\nThe government has said it was not possible to repair the Exeter school, and so it will be rebuilt(Google)\n\nThe new school was described as “state-of-the-art” in a[press release issued](https://www.tedwraggtrust.co.uk/news/?pid=3&nid=1&storyid=12) by the Ted Wragg Multi-Academy Trust ahead of construction, with facilities including a theatre, two recreational halls and a dedicated dining hall.\n\nLib Dem councillor Alan Connett, whose ward the school is located in, said: “How on earth a brand new, never-used school is being demolished begs many questions about the management and oversight of that contract, in my view.”\n\nSir Mel Stride, who is the shadow chancellor and was in government when the school contract was awarded, told 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.\n\n“I will do everything I can to support the academy and ensure these issues are resolved as quickly as possible.”\n\nA Department for Education spokesperson said: “The safety of children is our top priority, which is why we are rebuilding Matford Brook school.\n\n“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.”\n\nA spokesperson for Matford Brook Academy said: “Following a detailed programme of investigative work commissioned by the DfE, the department has confirmed that the partially completed permanent school building does not meet the required building standards and cannot be completed in its current form.\n\n“The DfE has therefore taken the decision to replace the building with a new one. While this is not the news our community had hoped for, it does provide a clear way forward. Work is already underway to develop the next stages of the project and appoint an experienced contractor to deliver the rebuild.\n\n“Our pupils will continue to learn in a high-quality environment while these plans progress. The expansion of our temporary accommodation will be completed in time for September 2026, providing additional purpose-built spaces to support our growing school and enabling us to continue to welcome new students as planned.","source_name":"The Independent","source_url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/matford-brook-academy-school-exeter-devon-demolished-safety-b3010287.html","url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/matford-brook-academy-school-exeter-devon-demolished-safety-b3010287.html","author":"Alex Ross","author_name":"Alex Ross","published_at":"2026-07-11T16:40:46.000Z","publication_date":"2026-07-11T16:40:46.000Z","image_url":"https://static.independent.co.uk/2026/07/07/8/43/Matford-Brook-Academy4.jpeg","category":"world","topic":"world","tags":[],"political_bias":null,"bias_score":null,"confidence_score":null,"credibility_score":null,"factual_quality":null,"reading_time":6,"word_count":1034,"view_count":0,"breaking":false,"breaking_news":false,"ai_analysis":null,"fact_check_status":"unverified","archive_status":"hot"}}