The award came through the Department for Education framework which McLaren won a place on to deliver medium value contracts in London, the South East and East of England in 2021.

The new two-form entry primary school for 420 pupils aged 4-11 has an integrated 30-place nursery.

It replaces the existing one-form entry Westfield Community Primary School in Hoddesdon and provides additional space to serve the new High Leigh Garden Village where it is located.

The new school will be built using Innovare’s structural insulated panels (SIPs) between concrete floors. The pre-manufactured timber panels provide excellent thermal and acoustic insulation, fire resistance and low waste, as well as enabling the structure of the building to take shape rapidly.

McLaren’s divisional director for education Tony Whyte said: “High Leigh will quickly take shape now and that is the result of an effective partnership between Hertfordshire, its designers and contractor to update a 2020 planning consent and get back on schedule to deliver much-needed new school places.

“Budgets are always tight in the public sector and the education authority needs the confidence that a quality learning environment for pupils can be created within agreed costs. We can give that confidence through our experience of building many schools for all ages, alongside sports or science facilities and buildings designed for pupils with special needs.”

Executive Member for Education, Libraries & Lifelong Learning at Hertfordshire County Council, Cllr Caroline Clapper, added: “The appointment of McLaren will now allow the building of a new primary school with state-of-the art facilities, delivering the tools children need to thrive.”

McLaren will be following its policy of procuring locally wherever possible and has already found suppliers in the surrounding area for brickwork, scaffolding, cleaning and the school’s sports pitch.