MARLBOROUGH College has appointed construction company Stepnell to carry out a £1.1m programme to re-roof and refurbish part of the boarding school.

Scaffolding currently surrounds the prestigious school as Stepnell’s Wantage team have just started work on the scheme for one of the two buildings which make up the Grade II-listed North Block.

The project, designed by architects Gray Baynes + Shew, will involve the re-roofing of the block to the west which houses the school’s English department.

Stepnell will also carry out internal refurbishment work to four ground-floor and four first-floor classrooms in the building, which dates from 1893. A temporary roof has been erected to ensure the construction programme is not delayed by bad weather.

The work, awarded to Stepnell through a competitive tendering process, is set for completion in early September, ready for the start of the new academic year.

Stepnell area manager Steve Burgess says: “Our team has a strong track record of working on listed buildings as well as significant experience of delivering education sector projects and we are delighted to be bringing that expertise to this important scheme.

“The work has been carefully programmed around the academic day and over the school holidays to minimise disruption to students and staff.”