Construction and support services firm to build £13m pathfinder school in Nottinghamshire

Carillion has won one of the first contracts in the government's new £7bn primary school programme.

The construction and support services firm will build a £13m pathfinder school in Old Basford, Nottinghamshire. Southwark Primary School will facilitate 630 pupils between 5 and 11.

Carillion won the contract on the back of its role as the winner of the first phase of Nottingham council's £208m BSF programme.

Nottingham council is one of 23 local authorities selected to act as pathfinders for the Department for Children, Schools and Families' "Primary Capital Programme," which will see a £7bn generation of primary schools built across the country.

John McDonough, Carillion chief executive, said: "We are delighted to have been selected for this pathfinder project under the government's primary capital programme, which is leading the way in providing first-class facilities for primary education in Nottingham."

Construction work will begin this month and the school is expected to open in March 2010.