Morgan Sindall has started work on two schools for Birmingham City Council, won under the Constructing West Midlands (CWM) framework.

Paganel Primary School on Swinford Road, Selly Oak, and Cherry Oak Special Needs School on Frederick Road are the first of eight schools that Morgan Sindall will be working on in the region under the framework.

The Paganel Primary School project comprises the construction of a £1.5 million extension which is due to complete in early 2016.

The work will allow the school to increase its existing 294 places and will give the pupils, teachers and school users a new and modernised learning environment.

Linda Waldron, placement officer at South and City College Birmingham, said: “We are very happy to be working with Morgan Sindall on the school contracts.

“The opportunities provide excellent work experience and employment for our construction students across a variety of trades, ranging from bricklaying and plumbing to quantity surveying, which provides a great start to their careers.”

Richard Fielding, area director at Morgan Sindall, said: “Both schools are undergoing transformations to enhance the learning environment for pupils under the CWM framework.

“The extensions on each school will allow for a higher pupil intake and give the teachers more space. Cherry Oak is a special school and the new space will also allow for parents to have a specific room to meet in and to liaise with teachers which is extremely important to them.

“At Morgan Sindall, we are determined to deliver social and economic benefits alongside our projects, so we recruit and employ local subcontractors and suppliers.

“We are also working with South and City College Birmingham to provide recruitment and training programmes for local people across all eight schools, which will provide fantastic hands-on experience for them.”