Education Property Issue 10 August-September 2025

08/2025

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2025

Works begins to connect Bradford

College to the local energy network

Capital funding allocations underpin

infrastructure improvements

How imaginative play areas can

support early years development

EDUCATION-PROPERTY.COM

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Comment

W E L C O M E

Tough times ahead for

the education sector

Since the last edition

of Education Property,

Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has

delivered her much-anticipated

Spending Review, which set

out the Government’s plans

to invest in Britain’s renewal

and confirms departmental

budgets for day-to-day

spending until 2028/29,

and until 2029/30 for

capital investment.

For the education sector it

wasn’t a great outcome, as the

department did not even make

it into the top five recipients in

terms of budget increases.

Amounting to a 0.4%-peryear

increase in the core budget, times will continue

to be tough for providers, many of whom are

delivering education services from buildings which are

unfit for purpose.

Reeves’ speech did, however, reiterate plans to spend

£2.3bn a year fixing crumbling classrooms and a further

£2.4bn on rebuilding 500 schools.

You can find out more about the budget, and

how it will impact on education estates, in our

News section (p6).

In this edition we also look at investments being made

elsewhere in the UK, with £3.6bn having been spent on

improvement projects in Wales over

the last decade, and a £65m funding

pot for Irish school upgrades.

In our Finance section (p16),

features explore why investors buy

nurseries; how the purpose-built

student accommodation (PBSA)

market remains attractive to

investors; and planning strategies

for independent schools.

And, with the recent

announcement of the successful

recipients of Phase 4 of the Public

Sector Decarbonisation Scheme,

our Environmental section (p42)

provides an overview of the latest

projects and approaches, including

Great British Energy’s investment

in solar panels on education sites; barriers to energyefficient

heating adoption; and why sourcing sustainable

products is key to the net zero drive.

In the next edition we will be looking at sensory

rooms and why building management systems (BMS)

are critical to operational efficiencies.

Please email joanne.makosinski@nexusgroup.co.uk

if you can help with any of these articles, or have an

idea for features.

Jo Makosinski

Editor, Education Property

About Jo: Jo is the editor of Education Property, having

joined Nexus Media in November 2023.

She has been specialising in design and construction

best practice for the past 17 years, working on the

Building Better Healthcare Awards and editing both

Building Better Healthcare and Healthcare Design &

Management magazines.

She has a special interest in the design of public

buildings, including schools, nurseries, colleges, hospitals,

health centres, and libraries.

EDUCATION-PROPERTY.COM AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2025 | 3

16 October 2025

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Contents

Chief executive officer

Alex Dampier

Chief operating officer

Sarah Hyman

Editor

Joanne Makosinski

joanne.makosinski@nexusgroup.co.uk

Reporter and subeditor

Charles Wheeldon

Business development executive

Kirsty Parks

Head of marketing

Carrie Lee

Advertising & event sales director

Caroline Bowern

Publisher

Harry Hyman

Investor Publishing Ltd, 3rd Floor,

10 Rose & Crown Yard, King Street,

London, SW1Y 6RE

Tel: 020 7104 2000

Website: www.education-property.com

Education Property is published six times a year

by Investor Publishing Ltd.

ISSN 3033-3458

© Investor Publishing Limited 2025

The views expressed in Healthcare Property

are not necessarily those of the editor or publishers.

@edu_prop

linkedin.com/company/education-property-magazine/

6

6-9 News

We round up the latest big stories

from the sector, including the

impact of the recent Spending

Review on the education estate;

and schools receive funding to roll

out carbon efficiency programmes

10-16 Projects

News on the latest design and

construction projects from across

the education sector, including

ongoing work to create the new

Greater Manchester Institute of

Technology (GMIoT) building and

the transformation of the historic

Edinburgh Canongate site to create

a modern student residence

18

18 Preview

Find out more about the upcoming

Education Property Forum event

20-29 Finance and Property

The importance of accurate

reinstatement cost assessments

(RCAs) for education settings; a

new Christie & Co report reveals

strong interest in childcare and

education properties; exploring

planning strategies for independent

schools; and research shows how

the student living asset class has

shifted from niche to mainstream

32

30-31 Finance and

Property Deals

The latest property deals,

acquisitions, and mergers from

across the sector

32-33 Awards

Revealing the winners of the

EducationInvestor Awards 2025

34-35 Design and Construction

How imaginative play can support

early years development and

strengthen a nursery’s success

36-40 Estates and Facilities

Management

We spend a morning with a

MAT estates and facilities team;

plus new security white paper

addresses school security

challenges with integrated

alarm solutions; false fire alarms

cause a headache in student

halls of residence; and John

Calder from Dura Pump shares

his top cooling tips to keep

education facilities operational

over the summer

42-50 Environmental

We look at what schools and

early years providers can do to

source sustainable resources;

Welsh school project is awarded

the highest sustainability rating;

work to connect Bradford College

to the £70m Bradford Energy

Network gets underway; and

research reveals that more than

a third of UK schools continue

to grapple with key challenges

in achieving heating system

decarbonisation


News

Ministers attend a pre-budget cabinet meeting. Image, Simon Dawson, No. 10 Downing Street

No light at the end

of the tunnel for

education estates

We examine the impact of the Government’s Spending Review

Just weeks after the last edition of

Education Property went to press,

Chancellor, Rachel Reeves delivered

her much-anticipated Spending Review.

The Department for Education’s

settlement — which Reeves said would see

the core schools’ budget rise by £2bn in

real terms by 2029 — put the department

outside the top five recipients of the review

for percentage-terms budget increases.

And, while it reiterated the Government’s

pledge to spend £2.3bn a year fixing

crumbling classrooms, and a further £2.4bn

on rebuilding 500 schools, overall it will

leave schools struggling to deliver firstclass

educational services in fit-for-purpose

environments, experts said.

Nick MacKenzie, head of education at

law firm, Browne Jacobson, said: “A 0.4%

per annum increase in the core schools

budget over the spending review period is

exceptionally tight, particularly when we

consider existing and growing pressures in

areas such as special educational needs and

disabilities (SEND).

“This won’t release schools and trusts

from their financial shackles, with

confidence deteriorating among school

leaders in their organisational resilience.”

And he described the increase in

capital spending as ‘the tip of an iceberg’,

adding: “Affirmation of the Government’s

commitment to improving the school

estates via a £2.4bn fund for the School

Rebuilding Programme over the next four

years was an important step.

“The last Audit Commission report on

the condition of school buildings found

the condition of the overall school estate

is declining, with about 700,000 pupils

learning in a school that needs major

rebuilding or refurbishment.

“But, with the annual maintenance budget

only increasing in line with inflation, it is

hard to see how the decline will be reversed.

“There’s clearly much more work needed

to repair the crumbling school estate —

with the RAAC crisis of two years ago only

the tip of an iceberg.”

Allan Wilen, economic director at

Glenigan, agreed that, while there will be

an increase in the capital budget, schools

will still struggle to carry out all necessary

improvements to their estates.

He told Education Property: “Many

might feel that the allocation is not nearly

large enough to address the extent of

dilapidation which exists across many state

schools up and down the country.”

And Natalie Perera, chief executive

of the Education Policy Institute, said

SEND provision, in particular, had

been overlooked.

She added: “The most-pressing challenge

is the crisis in special educational needs and

disabilities (SEND) provision and today’s

settlement doesn’t appear to leave adequate

funding to deliver the much-needed

reforms in this area.

“Reforming SEND provision will

require investing in highly-trained support

staff, adapted learning environments,

and consistent, high-quality training for

teachers across all schools.” n

Many might feel that the allocation is not

nearly large enough to address the extent of

dilapidation which exists across many state

schools up and down the country

6 | AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2025 EDUCATION-PROPERTY.COM

£3.6bn boost for Welsh schools

The Welsh Government has invested more

than £3.6bn in 330 estates improvement

projects at schools and colleges across

the country in the last decade.

The Government’s Sustainable Communities

for Learning Programme provides modern,

fit-for-purpose buildings designed to educate

the digital generation.

And, on a recent visit to Ysgol Llyn y Forwyn,

the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne

Neagle, met learners and staff at their new

school, based at the former Chubb Factory site

in Ferndale, Rhondda Cynon Taf, to find out

more about the impact of the programme.

The primary school, which opened earlier

this year, benefits from a 30-place Cylch

Meithrin nursery, a multi-use games area, a

grass sports pitch, car parks, and dedicated

areas for those accessing the school on

foot or by bicycle.

10-year-old Reevah, a year six pupil at the

school, said: “Because there’s so much room

and space it’s so much better to learn here.

“The yard has really benefited us. We can

play a lot more games.

“People seem a lot happier and everyone is

definitely more positive about learning.”

Neagle added: “I am incredibly proud of

how this £3.6bn investment is transforming

education in every part of Wales.

“These modern, sustainable buildings

aren’t just raising standards and reducing the

attainment gap; they’re creating an education

infrastructure that’s truly world-class and a

source of national pride.

“Schools and colleges sit at the heart of

our communities and we are ambitious

in Wales in how we approach new builds

Pen y Dre High School. Image, Lawray Architects

and refurbishments, enabling their design

to make a positive contribution to learners

and staff, local communities, and to the

natural environment.

“This investment in schools and colleges

also benefits the wider community by

providing jobs and apprenticeships and

boosting the Welsh economy, particularly in

the construction sector.”

Sustainability has been a focus since the

programme began in 2014.

And, in 2022, it led the way by mandating net

zero carbon in operation for all major projects.

Funding continues over the next nine

years, with 316 new building projects

in development, representing a total

investment of £5.4bn, including delivery

partner contributions.

Key achievements

• In 2022 South Point Primary school near

Barry was the first net zero carbon school

to open in Wales

• Pen y Dre High School in Merthyr was

the first net zero carbon school to supply

excess electricity to a nearby hospital

(Prince Charles)

• The Sustainable Schools Challenge, pushing

£470m fund to fix crumbling buildings

News

South Point Primary School Stride

Treglown ISG. Image, Matt Cant

boundaries to tackle the climate emergency,

involved pupils in the design of their new

school buildings. The winning schools were

Ysgol Bontnewydd and Community Centre

in Gwynedd, Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg

Rhosafan in Port Talbot, and Glyn-Coch

community school in Rhondda Cynon Taf

• £60m has been invested in 800 projects to

support access to education for learners with

Additional Learning Needs, with a further

£750m identified for future development

• £58m has delivered 128 Community

Focused Schools over the last three years,

with a further £20m planned for 2025 to 2026

• £67m invested to date in 49 Welshmedium

school projects, supporting

the goal of reaching one million Welsh

speakers by 2050

Pupils across England are set to

benefit from £470m worth of essential

maintenance fixes being rolled out

across schools.

Children at 656 schools and sixth forms will

benefit from a share of £470m for projects

like fixing crumbling roofs and removing

dangerous asbestos.

The funding is part of the £2.1bn investment

into the school estate this year, as the

Government forges on with delivering for the

public through its Plan for Change.

Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson,

said: “The defining image of the school estate

under the previous government was children

sitting under steel props to stop crumbling

concrete falling on their heads. It simply

isn’t good enough.

“Parents expect their children to learn in a

safe warm environment. It’s what children

deserve, and it is what we are delivering.

“This investment is about more than just

buildings; it’s about showing children that their

education matters, their futures matter, and

this government is determined to give them

the best-possible start in life.

“This investment will deliver energy-efficient,

warm classrooms with safe outdoor spaces

that are not just fit for lessons, but for the

future — creating a welcoming and supportive

school environment for generations of children

so they can achieve and thrive as they

progress through their education.”

The Department for Education confirmed

a £2.1bn investment for the school estate for

2025-2026, almost £300m more than the

previous year to fix the foundations of the

school estate.

A further £1.4bn will back the acceleration

of the school rebuilding programme this year,

with a commitment to kickstart projects at

100 schools this year alone, rejuvenating the

school estate by delivering new, high-quality

buildings that are not just energy efficient, but

fit for all pupils’ needs.

This will provide high-tech facilities that will

raise the standards of education through new

sports halls, IT rooms, school kitchens, and

playgrounds that children and staff can enjoy

for years to come.

Projects across schools and hospitals will

be delivered during the 2025 to 2026 financial

year, with the first upgrades expected to

begin this summer.


News

£120m to boost energy efficiency

More than £120m of clean energy projects

are set to go ahead at schools, colleges,

and universities across England following

the announcement of the successful

recipients of Phase 4 of the Public Sector

Decarbonisation Scheme.

The fund, launched in October 2024, is worth

£940m across all sectors and will run until

the 2027/28 financial year, supporting energy

saving and clean power upgrades.

Delivered by Salix on behalf of the

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero,

the grants will pay for a range of measures

including heat pumps, solar panels, insulation,

and double glazing, helping to reduce the UK’s

reliance on fossil fuels.

In this round, more than £124m has been

allocated to education providers, including

academy trusts, colleges, and universities.

Recipients include the University of York,

which was awarded £35m; Activate Leaning,

Berkshire, which will receive £4.2m; Oxford

Brookes University, which will get £5.3m; the

University of Exeter, which has been awarded

£8.6m; the Harris Federation, Croydon, which

gets £5.1m; and Barnet and Southgate College,

which received three grants of between

£300,000 and £2.9m.

Salix chief executive, Kevin Holland, said:

“It’s more important than ever that we focus

on what is happening to our planet, with

a key priority to reduce carbon emissions

from buildings.

“We’re proud to deliver these energy

efficiency projects together with

our stakeholders.

“Government funding and effective

partnerships will help to achieve the UK’s

ambitious net zero 2050 goals.”

At the University of York, the £35m grant

will pay for a pioneering geothermalpowered

heating network which will

capture energy from beneath the Earth’s

surface to help deliver low-carbon heat to

buildings on campus.

The University of Chester will spend its

£4.4m grant on the replacement of fossil

fuel-based heating systems with low-carbon

technologies and upgrades to the energy

infrastructure at the Queen’s Park and Wheeler

sites in the centre of Chester.

The three-year project will begin

implementation later this year, with completion

expected in 2028.

Professor Eunice Simmons, vice-chancellor

of the university, said: “This is a landmark

moment for the university and a clear

demonstration of our commitment to tackling

climate change through ambitious action.

“The success of this grant application

reflects not only the technical rigour of our

The proposed University of York geothermal heating project

proposals, but also the dedication and vision

of our colleagues working behind the scenes.

“We are proud to be contributing to the

momentum building across our city and

region towards a more-sustainable future.”

Lucy Fitzhugh, executive director of

estates and commercial operations, added:

“Delivering projects of this scale involves an

extraordinary level of planning, technical detail,

and cross-institutional collaboration.

“This funding empowers us to put innovative

decarbonisation solutions into action and

move significantly closer to a low-carbon

future for our campuses.”

The full list of education recipients by

region is as follows:

NORTH EAST

• Ad Astra Academy Trust, Hartlepool: £1m

• Cheviot Learning Trust,

Northumberland: £832,459

• Consilium Academy Trust: £1.5m

• Middlesbrough College: £4.9m

YORKSHIRE AND THE HUMBER

• Bishop Burton College, East

Yorkshire: £680,623

• Impact Education Multi Academy Trust,

West Yorkshire: £1m

• Pathfinder Multi Academy

Trust, York: £253,000

• Star Academies, Bradford: £962,133

• Together Learning Trust, Yorkshire:

£720,000 and £4.2m

• University of York: £35m

• Waterton Academy Trust, Wakefield: £2.4m

• York Diocesan Board of

Education: £396,000

NORTH WEST

• Blackburn Diocesan Board of


• Carlisle Diocesan Board of


• Diocese of Salford: £1m

• Edge Hill University, Lancashire: £1.7m

• Education Partnership Trust,

Blackburn: £1.7m

• Leverhulme Academy Church of England

and Community Trust, Bolton: £2.2m

• Liverpool Diocesan Board of


• The Liverpool Joint Catholic and Church of

England Academies Trust: £2.6m

• University of Chester: £4.4m

• University of Salford: £1.5m


News

EAST MIDLANDS

• Better Futures Multi-Academy Trust,

Nottingham: £2m

• Lift Schools, Lincolnshire: £128,888

• Lincoln College Group: £760,202

• Transform Trust, Nottingham: £217,790

• West Nottinghamshire College: £1.7m

• Wickersley Partnership Trust,

Lincolnshire: £1.9m

WEST MIDLANDS

• Aston University: £35,426,574

• Burton and South Derbyshire

College: £1.4m

• Hereford Diocesan Board of

Education: £1.4m

• University of Birmingham: £2m

EAST OF ENGLAND

• Bedford College Group: £211,000

• The Diocese of Chelmsford Vine Schools

Trust: £694,830

SOUTH EAST

• Activate Learning, Berkshire: £4.2m

• Dartford Science and Technology

College: £635,000

• Diocese of Chichester: £550,000

• Mary Hare School, Newbury,

Berkshire: £1.64m

• Milton Keynes College: £1.1m

• Oxford Brookes University: £5.3m

• Oxford Diocesan Board of


• Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust: £317,805

• Sir Roger Manwood’s School,

Kent: £330,000

• St Bede’s School, Surrey: £600,000

• The Avenue Special Needs Academy Trust,

Reading: £683,976

• The Forest School Academy Trust,

Winnersh: £1.2m

SOUTH WEST

• Bath Spa University: £3m

• Exeter College: £1.8m

• Falmouth Exeter Plus: £55,000

• Futura Learning Partnership,

Bristol: £720,000

• Gloucester Diocese: £251,258

• University of Exeter: £8.6m

• University of Plymouth: £2m

GREATER LONDON

• Barnet and Southgate College: £1.1m and

£300,306 and £2.9m (3 grants)

• East Surrey College, Croydon: £2m

• Greenshaw Learning Trust,

Croydon: £350,000

• Harris Federation, Croydon: £5.1m

• London South Bank University: £206,700

ACROSS ALL REGIONS

• REAch2 Academy Trust: £1,325,000

€65m for Irish school estates

Republic of Ireland Minister for Education

and Youth, Helen McEntee, has

announced a €65m investment in schools

to support digital learning and fund minor

building works.

€35m in funding for ICT infrastructure will

be awarded shortly to all recognised special,

primary, and post-primary schools, while

€30m in minor works funding will be provided

to primary and special schools to use for

maintenance and small-scale improvements.

McEntee said: “I am delighted to announce

that €65m will be invested in our schools,

both to help them with maintenance and

improvements, as well as helping schools

to embed ICT into their teaching, learning,

and assessments.

“With the world around us changing rapidly,

it is vital that schools can instil students with

the skills they need to reach their full potential

in our modern society.

“This ICT funding will empower schools to

harness the opportunities that technology

presents, and to support children and young

people to become competent, criticallyengaged

learners.

“Furthermore, minor works payments are

vital in supporting our primary and special

schools so I am pleased to announce €30m

in funding that will allow these school

communities to address issues at a local

level and support their operation for the

upcoming school year.

“Each school is different, so individual

schools are best placed to decide how best

to use this funding to address their own

maintenance needs.

“This lead-in period ahead of the new school

year will give schools time to consider their

plans and priorities as to how to best use this

funding for their own needs.

“Maintaining school buildings is vitally

important in promoting health and safety, in

providing a welcoming learning environment,

and in protecting the significant levels of

public funding being invested in new and

upgraded school infrastructure.

“Both the minor works and ICT funding will

support schools both to keep their buildings

safe and welcoming places for students, but

also in ensuring that students are learning

the skills they need in our schools to thrive in

today’s world.”

The €35m in ICT grant funding represents

the third tranche of ICT funding under the

Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 and builds

on the €210m already allocated under the

previous Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020

Enhancing Teaching Learning and Assessment

and the €100m that has been issued to date

under the current strategy.

Helen McEntee

In the case of a primary school the Digital

Strategy ICT grant will consist of a €2,000

basic grant plus €25.33 per mainstream pupil,

€30.40 per pupil with special educational

needs attending a special school or attending

a special class attached to a mainstream

school, and €27.86 per pupil in DEIS schools.

For example, a 100 pupil-primary school will

receive €4,533 and a 500 pupil-school will

receive €14,665.

In the case of a post-primary school this will

consist of a €2,000 basic grant plus €30.40 per

mainstream student and €33.44 per student

in DEIS schools.

A 500 student-school would receive

€17,200 and a 1,000 student-school would

receive €32,400.

The money will help schools to implement

the requirement to have a digital learning

platform in place.

It will also provide an additional top-up for

DEIS schools to meet additional challenges to

support their learners.

The minor works funding is being made

available to all primary and special schools

on the following basis: €5,500 basic grant

plus €18.50 per mainstream pupil and €74

per student with special educational needs

enrolled in the school on 30 September of the

year prior to the issue of the grant. The €74 rate

applies to a special needs pupil attending a

special school or attending a special education

class attached to a mainstream school.

The works that can be undertaken include

maintenance and small-scale improvements

to school buildings and grounds, improvement

or replacement of mechanical and electrical

services, the purchase of standard furniture

and educational equipment, the purchase

of floor coverings and window blinds, the

purchase of IT-related equipment, ventilation

improvements, and enhancements to outdoor

learning environments.

Between 2020-2024 in excess of €274m in

Minor Works Grants and Enhanced Minor

Works Grants has been allocated to schools.


News • Projects

Heritage at its heart

Historic Edinburgh Canongate site set to be

transformed into a modern student residence

Developments in collaboration with architect,

3Dreid, and contractor, Clark Contracts.

Will Rudd has used cutting-edge 3D

modelling and laser scanning technology

to plan, verify, and adjust works to prevent

structural surprises and allow the construction

to move forward efficiently.

“Retaining parts of the original structures

has been essential, not just for planning, but to

honour the site’s history,” said Even Sorgjerd,

director at Will Rudd (Edinburgh).

“It required an innovative combination of

traditional conservation techniques and

modern engineering.

“With parts of the site designated as

historically significant, and an active sewer

running beneath, the engineering solutions

had to be both respectful and precise.

“A bespoke system of façade retention and

underpinning was developed to preserve the

structures during construction.

“These measures have allowed the steel

frame of the new building to be constructed

seamlessly around the retained elements.”

The approach from Old Tolbooth Wynd

A corner of Edinburgh’s historic

Canongate, once the site of a 17th-century

Magdalene Asylum, is being turned into a

new student residence.

The site at 179 Canongate is being

transformed into a 76-unit student

accommodation block, which is earmarked for

completion by summer 2026, with students

expected for the summer 2026/27 intake.

Located within the Old Town Conservation

Area and UNESCO World Heritage Site,

the project is carefully weaving together

past and present.

From its origins as the Magdalene Asylum,

through to gasworks and offices, the building

will now enter a new chapter as purposebuilt

student accommodation (PBSA),

sensitively designed and engineered for

21st-century living.

Between the 1790s-1840s, the site was part

of the Magdalene Asylum, a reformatory

aimed at rehabilitating ‘fallen women’.

A view of the proposed North Elevation

The buildings were demolished after the

asylum was moved to the Gorgie area of the

city in the 1840s.

The buildings currently standing, and

those being incorporated into the new 179

Canongate development, formed part of the

city’s New Street Gasworks complex which

provided Edinburgh with fuel for cooking,

heating, and lighting until its closure in 1906.

The buildings were then converted and used

for offices in the late 20th Century.

PRESERVATION

Local civil and conservation engineering

expert, Will Rudd Edinburgh, is playing a

critical role in ensuring the transformation

respects the historic character of the area by

helping to preserve key elements of the site’s

heritage, including the retention of historic

boundary walls and a late 19th-century

workshop building.

The project is being delivered for S Harrison

CAREFUL PLANNING

Gavin Jones, development director at S

Harrison Developments, adds: “This project

presented a unique opportunity to sensitively

regenerate a historically-rich site in the heart

of Edinburgh’s Old Town.

“Balancing the intricacies of conservation

with the demands of high-quality, modern

student living required a collaborative and

carefully-considered approach.

“Will Rudd’s deep expertise in civil

and conservation engineering has been

instrumental in delivering solutions that

protect and enhance the heritage of 179

Canongate, while enabling the creation of

a purpose-built residence that contributes

positively to the fabric of the city.”

Located close to the Canongate Kirk

and Tolbooth, the new residence will

contribute positively to the evolving

streetscape of the Old Town, while offering

new accommodation options for students in

the city centre.

The current site

The view south along Old Tolbooth Wynd


£6m short-stay school opens in Surrey

Surrey County Council has officially

opened the newly-rebuilt Fordway Centre,

a state-of-the-art short-stay school

designed to support primary-aged pupils

who are finding it difficult to thrive in

mainstream education settings.

The Fordway Centre offers a modern,

inclusive, and nurturing environment for

up to 24 pupils aged 5-11, with the aim of

helping them re-engage with learning and,

where appropriate, transition back into

mainstream education.

The new building includes group rooms and

calm spaces, as well as a large community

kitchen and dining area, an activity room, and

staff areas as well as a playground and multiuse

games area (MUGA).

Part of the Inclusive Education Trust, the

Fordway Centre supports children referred

by the local authority following permanent

exclusion or those at risk of exclusion.

Dave Euridge, trust chief executive, said:

“These are some of Surrey’s most-vulnerable

pupils and they have been educated in

substandard buildings.

“They deserve so much more and

so we celebrate the fact that our

current and future pupils will receive an

outstanding education in a setting that is

designed and built with their personal and

educational needs in mind.

“This new building will ensure the Fordway

Centre will give an even better experience for

all that need our support.”

With small class sizes (up to eight pupils),

a high staff-to-pupil ratio, and a strong focus

on emotional wellbeing, the school provides

a calm and structured environment that

fosters positive behaviour and academic

re-engagement.

The new two-storey building, delivered

by Morgan Sindall Construction, represents a

£6.05m investment as part of Surrey County

Council’s wider £48.3m Alternative Provision

(AP) Capital Programme.

Fordway Centre’s new building

The original building

The scheme aims to consolidate and

modernise nine existing AP provisions into five

high-quality sites, increasing capacity from 199

to 240 places across the county.

Surrey County Council is also investing

£211m on its SEND Capital Programme.

This will expand the maintained specialist

education estate by around 2,404 additional

places by 2030 and improve existing facilities

equivalent to 633 places.

Guy Hannell, Morgan Sindall Construction’s

southern home counties area director, said:

“It’s been an absolute pleasure to celebrate

our delivery of the Fordway Centre with Surrey

County Council, teachers, and pupils.

“This project is incredibly beneficial for

Surrey’s community, supporting the next

generation with specialised facilities that are

tailored to the needs of pupils with additional

learning requirements.

“We’ve thoroughly enjoyed continuing

Councillor Jonathan Hulley and

Dave Euridge cut the ribbon

News • Projects

our relationship with Surrey County Council

throughout this project and aligning with their

net zero carbon in operation goals to deliver

Fordway’s new building.

“We look forward to seeing pupils and

the centre’s staff enjoy the new educational

environment that’s been created.”

The project team also included

Pick Everard, Holmes Miller, Turner &

Townsend, and Vail Williams.

One of the new classrooms

The kitchen and dining space


News • Projects

Milestone for college’s £17m expansion

The four-storey steel frame of Bradford

College’s new £17m building is now in

place, marking a key step in transforming

the Thornton Road site.

Led by Morgan Sindall, the new Junction

Mills building will offer students specialist

training in motor vehicle, advanced electrical,

hybrid, and hydrogen technologies, vital in

supporting the growth of low-carbon skills

capabilities within West Yorkshire.

The building’s framework incorporates 232

tonnes of hot-rolled steel, manufactured at

high temperatures to allow the steel to be

easily shaped into larger sizes.

The heaviest pieces of the structure are two

nine-tonne beams which support the firstfloor

workshop area.

Precast elements such as lift shafts and stairs

have been manufactured offsite using Modern

Methods of Construction (MMC), innovative

building techniques that improve efficiency,

quality, and sustainability in construction.

Metal decking and concrete floor slab works

will now commence.

And sustainability is central to the project.

A peer review of the RIBA Stage 3

foundation and steel frame design found

efficiencies that decreased steel and concrete

usage, resulting in a 56-tonne reduction in

carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e).

Work on the cladding and internal walls

saved a further 126 tonnes.

This work brings the total CO₂e saved so far

to 182 tonnes, the equivalent of heating 67 UK

homes annually.

Pamela Sheldon, head of projects at

Bradford College, said: “It’s exciting to see

our latest capital project take a step forward

— purpose-built to deliver cutting-edge

automotive training for the future.

“With space for up to 650 students, this new

facility represents a significant leap in how we

equip young people with the skills needed for

a low-carbon economy.

“It is also fitting that a building dedicated to

low-carbon skills should be constructed with

sustainability at its core.”

The project was made possible thanks

to £15m funding from the Department for

Education’s Further Education Capital

Transformation Fund (FECTF), boosted by a

£2m contribution from the college.

Once completed next year, the Bradford

College automotive department will relocate

from Bowling Back Lane to the new premises.

Morgan Sindall is leading the construction

of the state-of-the-art building and, following

Hydrotherapy pool upgraded

a recent monitoring visit, the Considerate

Constructors Scheme rated the contractor’s

performance level as ‘Excellent’ for respecting

the community, caring for the environment,

and valuing its workforce.

Ben Hall, area director for Morgan Sindall

Construction’s Yorkshire business, said:

“We’re thrilled to deliver what will be a gamechanging

new facility for Bradford.

“As part of our delivery of this project, we

look forward to undertaking social value

initiatives that benefit the people of Bradford,

ensuring this new facility has a positive impact

on the city way ahead of opening.”

Over the last three years, Bradford College

has secured nearly £40m in funding.

This substantial investment is helping the

college reshape and rebuild aspirational new

facilities in the heart of Bradford.

And the Junction Mills building is central

to the ambitious estates strategy, designed

to nurture inspiring careers in sectors that

support regional economic growth.

Other recent capital projects include the

opening of Garden Mills, a flexible digital,

science, and allied health training facility for

higher-level students, made possible by £5.8m

funding from The Office for Students (OfS)

Higher Education Capital Fund.

The college also remodelled new T-Level

training facilities for business, media, catering,

and hair and beauty students, which opened

following a £3.5m investment from the

Department for Education.

Northern Ireland Education

Minister, Paul Givan, has officially

opened a new hydrotherapy pool at

Fleming Fulton School.

The Minister also hosted Minister for Early

Education, Stephen Morgan MP, on a tour of

the facilities.

The pool has been redeveloped to allow a

range of therapy sessions to be provided for

pupils aged 3-19 years to meet their specific

needs within the school setting.

The work, designed and constructed by

Maurice Flynn & Sons supported by supplier

Shellard Tiles, included a complete retrofit of

the pool, reducing the height of the existing

walls and installing a new water treatment

system and air handling system.

The pool area and facilities were also

retrofitted, removing skylights and walls to

improve function and thermal properties.

The project was delivered by the Education

Authority at an estimated cost of £300,000.

Image, Shellard Tiles

Givan said: “I am

pleased to officially

open this facility ,

which will enhance

the daily lives of all

who use it, now and

into the future.

“This redeveloped

pool will help meet

the needs of the children and young people

in an environment that is both visually

stimulating and calming.”

Fleming Fulton principal, Karen Hancock,

added: “Hydrotherapy offers incredible

benefits for all children, including those with

disabilities.

“The buoyancy of the water allows for

movements that may not be possible on land,

reducing pressure on joints and muscles while

encouraging strength and promoting muscle

relaxation, flexibility, and co-ordination.

“The benefits of hydrotherapy go far beyond

the physical, it builds confidence, fosters

independence, and provides moments of fun

and freedom that are essential to a child’s

emotional wellbeing.

“The hydrotherapy pool is more than just

a facility, it represents a step forward in

our commitment to ensuring every child,

regardless of ability, has the opportunity

to thrive, grow, and experience the joys of

learning and development in an environment

that supports their unique needs.”


Roofing is ‘top of the class’

Milton Keynes City Council set out to

construct a new specialist teaching

unit at St Paul’s Catholic School which

would expand the number of local school

places and support available for young

people with special education needs and

disabilities (SEND).

Plans for the dedicated SEND unit included

three new classrooms for an additional 24

pupils, with teaching spaces, additional

breakout areas, intervention rooms, a

communal area, and a garden.

To ensure the perfect roofing finish, project

architect, Urban Fabric Architects, requested

tile samples from Marley, before deciding to

specify its full roof system, including Acme

Single Camber clay plain tiles in the Red

Smooth colourway across the new unit’s

600sq m roof space.

“With the project being funded by a local

authority, it was really important we were able

to deliver a cost-effective, yet high-quality,

roofing solution for the St Paul’s Catholic

School,” explains Rory Fenton, specification

manager at Marley.

“Our full roof system delivered exactly that,

combining the benefits of our Acme Single

Camber clay plain tiles, JB Red roofing battens,

Net-zero sports facility completed

Henry Boot Construction has completed

work on a new net-zero-carbonin-operation

sports facility and the

refurbishment of teaching spaces

at Minsthorpe Community College

in South Elmsall.

Providing high-quality facilities designed

for both students and the wider community,

the new facility includes two activity studios,

changing rooms, toilets, storage facilities,

office space, and a 6,394sq ft main sports hall,

which opened in January.

The final phase, including the installation of a

new multi-use games area (MUGA) has now

been completed, marking the full handover

of the project, which was funded by the

Department for Education.

Construction began in summer 2023 to

replace the previous outdated sports facilities,

alongside refurbishment works to several of

the existing blocks.

The sports facility has achieved an

impressive EPC A+ rating and forms part

of Minsthorpe Community College’s longterm

strategy to enhance sports provision

and establish a central hub for community

engagement and physical wellbeing.

In addition to meeting net-zero-in-operation

vapour-permeable underlay, ventilation,

and ridges to create a strong, durable

roofing solution.”

Marley’s Acme Single Camber clay plain tiles

were the perfect finish for the project, offering

all the benefits and visual appeal of a strong,

natural clay roof, combined with cutting-edge

modern production techniques.

And the Red Smooth colourway was

selected to match the site’s existing units,

while also keeping in touch with the local

roofing vernacular and planning requirements.

Due to the project’s unique design, several

roof windows and in-roof ventilation were

required, which created roof specification

challenges that needed to be overcome.

Fenton said: “Our technical team worked

closely with the architects to recommend

the best products to meet the specific

requirements and create a quality roof system.

“This created its own specification

standards, the facility also incorporates a

green roof and integrated sustainable drainage

solutions to enhance both biodiversity and

environmental performance.

Ryan O’Loughlin, regional director at Henry

Boot Construction, said: “We’re incredibly

proud to have delivered a facility that will

have a lasting impact on both the students

of Minsthorpe Community College and

the wider South Elmsall, South Kirby, and

Upton community.

“From day one, this project was about more

than just bricks and mortar; it was about

creating a sustainable space that supports

physical and mental wellbeing, learning, and

community engagement.

“Throughout the project, we also placed

a strong focus on delivering social value,

adopting a student-led approach to shaping

News • Projects

challenges, as it required a versatile tile that

can work at both shallow and steep pitches.

“Marley’s Acme Single Camber clay plain tile

was able to meet this need perfectly, meaning

the same tile could be used across the whole

roof for a consistent finish.”

As a local authority, Milton Keynes

City Council also needed to ensure

that the new SEND unit supported its

sustainability ambitions.

Addressing this need, Marley’s Acme

Single Camber clay plain tiles are accredited

to the BES 6001 Framework Standard for

Responsible Sourcing, providing assurance

that its materials are ethically sourced.

Additionally, Marley offers Environmental

Product Declarations (EPDs) across its entire

clay, concrete tile ranges, together with its

existing solar PV range, supporting local

authorities with informed decision making

aligned with sustainability targets.

the future of their sports facilities.

“We believe that quality social value is

achieved through genuine collaboration, and

we’re confident this development leaves a

positive legacy that the whole community

can be proud of.”

Joint principals, Mark Gilmore and Rachael

Merritt, from Minsthorpe Community College,

added: “We were delighted to be chosen

as one of the first 50 schools to be part of

the Department for Education’s School

Rebuilding Programme.

“The new sports centre and surrounding

works, including a new multi-use games

area, is the final piece in the jigsaw in bringing

the college’s facilities into the 21st Century,

meaning the experiences of both our amazing

students and fantastic community will be

enriched for years to come.”


News • Projects

Willmott Dixon to lead Barnes

Hospital regeneration

Willmott Dixon has started a £30m

programme of regeneration at Barnes

Hospital, which will include the creation of

a new SEN school.

Representatives from the contractor joined

patients, carers, NHS staff, teachers, and

local leaders across health and education

in marking the start of works to develop an

NHS mental health facility and a new Special

Educational Needs (SEN) school.

This major investment in health and

educational provision across the borough has

been made possible by funding from South

West London and St George’s Mental Health

NHS Trust and LocatED, an arms-length body

of the Department for Education.

Reflecting on the project’s importance,

Richard Poulter, Willmott Dixon’s managing

director in the South, said: “We are excited to

have been chosen to deliver this vital project,

procured via the Southern Construction

Framework (SCF), which will deliver

modern centres of excellence for mental

health and education.

“This will see sustainable, inclusive,

and high-quality spaces created that will

help shape a healthier future for people

living in Barnes.”

NHS trust chief executive, Vanessa Ford,

added: “This marks the next step in our

journey to deliver modern, community-facing

mental healthcare for the people of Richmond.

“We want to create inclusive new spaces to

deliver better environments and better care for

our patients, now and in the future.

“Our Better Communities programme is

driving important changes across our estate

and we are excited to see construction

begin here at Barnes as we strive to create

environments that improve patient experience,

reduce mental health stigma, and bring care

closer to home.”

The new NHS facility will provide

accommodation for a range of community

mental health services, which relocated from

Barnes to the trust’s Livingston House facility

in Teddington in 2023.

When Barnes reopens in 2027, the trust’s

expanded community services will continue

to operate from both sites, supporting

accessibility across the borough.

James Wright, head of SCF, said:

“We’re delighted to have supported the

procurement of Barnes Hospital regeneration,

which will provide vital support for mental

health and special educational needs

in the community.

“Projects like this are especially significant for

us as a framework as they reflect the highimpact,

community-focused projects we are

committed to supporting.

“The collaboration shown by all teams

involved has been outstanding and we’re

excited to see the positive impact the

project will have.”

The school, the London River Academy, will

provide 90 places for children with social and

emotional mental health (SEMH) needs and

will be operated by the Beckmead Trust.

Lara Newman, chief executive of

LocatED, said: “By working closely with our

NHS partners and the Beckmead Trust,

we’re demonstrating how collaborative

approaches can transform public services

and deliver exceptional facilities for the

communities we serve.

“We’re proud to be contributing to the wider

regeneration of this historic site, creating a

purpose-built environment where children can

thrive for generations to come.”

And patient advocate, Kathy Sheldon, chair

of the Friends of Barnes Hospital, added: “We

have really enjoyed being part of co-designing

the new Barnes over a number of years and

look forward to continuing to support the trust

in the final stages of this.

“Replacing Victorian-era buildings with

this modern, purpose-built facility will

mean so much to the patients, carers, and

staff we support.”

The redevelopment has been informed by

consultations with staff, patients, and the

wider community over several years, with a

residential development led by LS Estates

also due to come forward on the remaining

part of the site.

Barnes’ transformation is part of a major

programme of rebuilding mental health

facilities across South West London.

This started with the £150m redevelopment

of Springfield University Hospital in

Wandsworth in 2022/23 and will be followed

by the opening of the new Richmond Royal

Wellbeing Centre this summer and the

opening of Barnes Hospital in 2027.

The programme will conclude with the

£110m redevelopment of Tolworth Hospital in

Kingston, due to be delivered in 2028.


Contractor appointed for secondary

school boxing academy project

News • Projects

The Department for Education (DfE)

has appointed McLaren Construction to

build the Boxing Academy, a 56-student

secondary school in Clapton serving 12

to 16 year olds who need an alternative to


The contract was awarded via the DfE

Construction Framework 2021 and the new

building relocates temporary facilities in

Monteagle Way in Hackney to a nearby site

in Brooke Road.

The Boxing Academy Trust’s mission

is to provide high-quality education and

development through the discipline and

ethos of boxing and it has a history of strong

outcomes for students who have struggled in


Clever use of a small site by architects,

Holmes Miller, delivers 1,500sq m of space

and brings daylight into teaching spaces while

maintaining a high level of privacy for students.

And classrooms are to be built around a

private courtyard.

McLaren Construction’s team will use their

experience of working on tight urban sites

as they respect neighbouring residents,

businesses, and a nearby school and manage

the restrictions of the adjacent Red Route.

In addition to the public benefit delivered by

a new school, McLaren is committed to further

benefits in the way it delivers the project,

including T-level placements, apprenticeships,

and work experience opportunities, while

construction careers are promoted to local

young people through talks and site visits.

The Boxing Academy’s staff, students, and

parents will also follow construction through

guided tours and presentations.

McLaren Construction’s divisional director,

Tony Whyte, said: “This purpose-built school

centred around the sport of boxing promises

to be a landmark in both education and

school design.

“It’s hard to imagine how a school that

already scores an Ofsted ‘Outstanding’

rating across the board can get better, but

the completed building will give them the

right environment for getting the best out of

Image, Holmes Miller

all the students.”

Principal of the Boxing Academy, Anna

Cain, adds: “Working with McLaren and

Holmes Miller on the design has been

a rewarding and collaborative process

and we are beyond excited to finally start

the build phase.

“The new school will be a centre of

excellence for our unique combination of

quality education and boxing, which will

benefit the staff and students as well as the

local community.”

The project is due to complete in

September 2026.

Junior school project milestone

Northern Irish construction firm,

Gilbert Ash, has been appointed to lead

development of a new junior school

in west London.

The company has been awarded a £31m

contract to deliver the new facility at St Paul’s

School in Barnes.

The school was founded in 1666 and the

scheme will see two new buildings added to

the campus, as well as playgrounds.

The Junior School West will be a threestorey

building housing a teaching block

and changing facilities, while Junior School

East will be a two-storey facility comprising a

teaching block and double-height hall.

The Junior School West building will form the

central space of the school and will provide a

multi-functional exhibition space, surrounded

by teaching spaces; while the Junior School

East building will be linked to the West

building via a covered external play space

known as ‘The Barn’.

The buildings have been designed by

Hawkins\Brown Architects and are targeting a

BREEAM ‘Excellent’ sustainability rating’.

The new buildings will be heated with

air source heat pumps with photovoltaic

panels on the roof, which will also house a

green roof system.

External drainage will incorporate storm

and foul water diversion, porous surface

overflow pipework, and a rain garden, while

interior fit-out plans include acoustic wall

panels and slatted timber acoustic panels

and lining, while flooring will vary from

engineered hard-wood flooring to linoleum

and carpeted areas.


News • Projects

Students step into the future

Students from Wigan & Leigh College

have become the first learners to step

inside the new Greater Manchester

Institute of Technology (GMIoT) building

currently under construction at the

University of Salford’s Peel Park Campus.

Bringing together a mixed cohort of

construction and built environment

apprentices and T Level students, the visit

provided a behind-the-scenes look at the

£14.3m state-of-the-art learning centre, which

is due to open early next year.

The visit also coincided with the Greater

Manchester Festival of Technical Education

which is being held throughout June and July.

Run by the GMCA, the festival boasts

a series of virtual and in-person events

celebrating student achievements in technical

education, as well as the education providers

and employers offering these opportunities.

Led by Tilbury Douglas, the building is a key

part of the university’s Campus Connectivity

Plan and will serve as a flagship hub for higher

technical education in Greater Manchester.

The tour gave students an opportunity to

see the scale and complexity of the project up

close and to hear directly from construction

professionals about the real-world

considerations shaping the build, from design

adaptations to sustainability features.

Martin Gilmore, tutor for civil engineering

at Wigan & Leigh College, said: “This

was an excellent and insightful visit into

current practices.

“Hearing about the construction team’s

input into design changes really illustrated

the importance of co-operation between

designers and contractors.

“It’s valuable for students to see how

dynamic and responsive this industry can be.”

Claire Foreman, director of the Greater

Manchester Institute of Technology, added:

“We were proud to host such a curious,

engaged group of students from Wigan &

Leigh College.

“The future of construction and the built

environment is in their hands and enriching

experiences like this help show them how they

fit into that future, with access to real sites, real

professionals, and real opportunities.”

Once complete, the low-carbon GMIoT

building will include flexible digital labs, a

prototyping workshop, and cutting-edge ICT

studios, all designed to support industryinformed

education across construction,

engineering, computing, media and health.

It forms a core part of the university’s wider

estate transformation, and supports a broader

mission to create employer-led pathways into

high-skill careers.

Apprentice, Charlotte, said of the visit: “It

was interesting finding out about the beam

piles, going 26m down while the building is

only 11m tall.

“We found out this is because the deeper

ground has a stronger load-bearing capacity.”

The student visit follows the recent steel

signing ceremony, which marked the final

steel beam being put in place at the new

dedicated learning centre.

Led by the University of Salford, with Wigan

& Leigh College as the lead Further Education

(FE) partner, the GMIoT brings together

a number of colleges and employers in

the city region.

The new building will be a base for teaching

the university’s GMIoT students and for

students and staff from partner institutions

to visit for collaborative work together and

with industry.

The site is a key part of the university’s

multi-million-pound Campus Connectivity

Plan, which is the major redevelopment of its

research, teaching, and public spaces and

is the most-ambitious development of its

estate to date.

The building will complement the wider

Crescent Salford masterplan delivered by

Salford City Council in partnership with the

university and ECF (English Cities Fund).


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Inside issue 07, February-March 2025

• Real estate experts predict education

property market trends for 2025

• We reveal the winners of the National

NMT Nursery Awards

• A new report explores how

improving older buildings can

meet carbon reduction targets

Inside issue 08, April-May 2025

• PBSA scheme sets

environmental benchmark

• The impact of CIF funding on

education estates

• Backlog maintenance bill hits £13.8bn

Inside issue 09, June-July 2025

• How developments in Scotland’s capital city

are impacting education estates

• The winners of the 2025 Education

Property Awards

• First Education Property Forum

proves a success

EDUCATION-PROPERTY.COM

News

Stay ahead of the pack

October 8 will see the return of the Education

Property Forum, a new event from Education Property

magazine publisher, Nexus Media Group

The first event was held at The

Belfry in Sutton Coldfield in May

and brought investors, heads of

estates, operators, developers, and product

and service suppliers together for a day of

networking and analysis.

The second forum, to be held at IET

Savoy Place in London, will be co-located

with the Independent School Management

Forum, and will include six speaker sessions.

Chaired by Education Property editor, Jo

Makosinski, the sessions are:

• Negotiating the new VAT rules on

independent schools (Rachel Moulton,

regional practice director of education at

HKS; and Tom Ellis, Arcadis)

• Biophilia in education estates (Lisa

Norton, owner of Harrogate Garden

Design; and Derek Clements-

Croome, Professor Emeritus of

Architectural Engineering at the

University of Reading)

• Delivering the net-zero carbon pledge

(Alex Green, head of Let’s Go Zero at

Ashden; Chris Leese, technical director,

TG Escapes; John Kevan, chief customer

officer of Quantaco; and Andrew

Dutton, Arcadis)

• Modern Methods of Construction

(MMC) — The future of education

infrastructure delivery (Gaynor Tennant,

founder and chairman of the Offsite

Alliance; Ian Heptonstall, founder of

Action Sustainability and director of

the Supply Chain Sustainability School;

Hershil Patel, Arcadis)

• Designing the brief: Delivering ‘the

best sixth form in the country’ through

deep collaboration between client and

architect (Oliver Moore, senior associate

at Design Engine Architects)

• Placemaking: Masterplanning and

maximising independent school estates

( Joanne Ladds of Noble+Eaton)

Delegates will have the opportunity to quiz

the experts as well as taking part in prearranged

one-to-one meetings and other

networking opportunities.

Speaking after the last event, Jerry

Dunham of Dunhams Washroom Systems,

said: “These sort of events are great for us

as you are meeting specifiers and architects

and you are able to explain your product

and why it would be of benefit.

“Having so many meetings in a single day

also cuts down on travel. It is a great way to

maximise your time.”

And speaker, Peter Jackson from Browne

Jacobson, added: “I was delighted to

speak at the very first forum on early years

funding changes and the likely impact on

the school estate.

“Let’s hope for many more events to come

and that the forum can become a voice for

the education property sector.” n

For more information, scan/click the QR code,

or visit https://education-property.com/

events/education-property-forum-iet-savoyplace-london-october-2025/

Rachel-Moulton

Derek

Clements-Croome

Lisa Norton

Alex Green

John Kevan

Hershil Patel

Oliver Moore


16 October 2025


LEADING THE AGENDA

FOR THE FUTURE OF

EDUCATION



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• 60+ speakers



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Finance and Property

Why investors buy nurseries

Times are tough for many nursery owners, but the sector as a

whole is increasingly attractive to investors. Leah Turner,

co-founder of nursery brokerage, Owen Froebel, explains why

Spend just five minutes on a nursery

owners’ chat forum at the moment

and you’ll come away with a

feeling of gloom.

Owners are rightly extremely concerned

about their financial situation, with many

feeling under attack from a procession of

whammies including increases to employers’

National Insurance contributions, the

National Minimum Wage and business

rates, and confusion around additional

charges on top of funded hours.

The National Day Nurseries Association

estimates with changes in NI and the

NMW we are looking at an extra cost of

about £2,600 per employee, per year.

WHO IS INVESTING?

Despite all this, the day nursery sector

remains an attractive proposition, with a

flurry of new investors entering the market.

In 2025 so far, new investors have made

up 49% of new registered buyers, up from

about 35% last year.

A lot of new buyers are coming from

private equity funds and we also have a

number of entrepreneurs, investors who are

not in the same class as private equity funds,

but may have started a previous business

and are now looking to invest in a new one.

We also have people moving from

neighbouring sectors.

Day nurseries are classified under

healthcare and often face similar regulations,

funding systems, and structures.

Healthcare businesses such as dentists,

A lot of new buyers are coming from private equity funds and we also

have a number of entrepreneurs — investors who are not in the same

class as private equity funds, but may have started a previous business

and are now looking to invest in a new one



pharmacists, and care homes are now

looking at day nurseries as a good sector

to expand into.

And, given the fact that nurseries are

currently cheaper than care homes, this

move makes sense.

WHY INVEST?

When I talk to nursery owners looking to

exit the industry, they often say they don’t

know why anyone would want to enter

this sector. Unfortunately, a lot of things

that drive people to exit the sector are

frustrations; funding, bureaucracy, Ofsted.

However, it’s useful to understand why

a buyer may be looking to come in and the

positives they see in the sector.

MORE FUNDING

One positive is the expanded eligibility for

funded places and increased funding.

There is always going to be a debate about

funding rates, but the fact that funding

exists at all can be attractive to those

looking to enter the sector.

Buyers see this as a sector where a certain

income is guaranteed.

Funding is ‘bread and butter’ money,

paying for your basics.

Of course, you have to build your

business on top of that to make it profitable,

but it gives you that foothold that a lot of

sectors don’t offer.

Due to the increased funding eligibility,

we are seeing buyers shift their focus away

from looking at nurseries in very-affluent,

mainly-fee-paying geographical areas.

Buyers are now paying more attention

to the funding rates in different areas than

they have before.

For example, the average funding rate

in Birmingham is £9.18 an hour, and in

neighbouring Solihull it is £8.42, while in

the West Midlands as a whole the average

private hourly rate is about £5.20.

You have neighbours side by side, with

a difference in the funding rate, but with

both of them on much more than the

average hourly rate.

Buyers are increasingly engaging in that

kind of granular thinking as they look at

how they can drill down and maximise

profitability.

LOW MULTIPLES

The day nurseries sector also has low

multiples compared to comparable markets,

such as dentistry and care homes.

Multiples are a way of calculating a

company’s attractiveness to investors

through dividing its market value by its

earnings before interest, tax, depreciation,

and amortisation (EBITDA), so obviously

a lower multiple means a higher potential

return on investment.

At the moment, multiples in the nursery

sector for nurseries with an EBITDA of

£150,000 are sitting at around five to six,

depending where in the country you are.

In sectors such as dental and pharmacy,

multiples have peaked at eight or nine.

Investors are saying: “If I can buy now,

when the market value of this nursery is

five times its EBITDA, in five years time

the value should be around eight times its

EBITDA, and that will be a worthwhile

return on my investment.”

COMMUNITIES

A lot of private equity funds are attracted

to community-focused investment as they

have a certain amount of funds they want to

be spent in the community.

Nurseries come under that heading, so

are seen as a great place to make money

while still ticking that community box.

EASIER FINANCES

We have seen a lot of second-tier lenders

entering the market, like Unity Bank.

These lenders have not been particularly

focused on the day nursery sector in

the past, but they are entering the

market because there is so much growth

to be had here.

Banks are keen to lend to owners of one

or two settings who are looking to expand,

as they see them as a safe bet; they work

hard and there are plenty of opportunities

for growth, so they want to help you.

On the other hand, it’s still difficult

for individual buyers who are new to

childcare as banks are avoiding firsttime

buyers unless they have very clear

childcare experience.

These buyers may not really understand

how the nursery business works, and if you

don’t have experience of childcare or an

investment background, you end up being

a business owner who is at the mercy of a

manager, relying on that person to oversee

day-today operations.

The margins in this sector are way too

small for a business owner to be learning

as they go along.

BUSINESS MODELS

As markets continue to grow and expand

we are going to see increased opportunities

for further growth and expansion.

Nursery owners will learn from profitable

business models and innovation established

by existing groups.

Investors believe there are changes they

can make to a nursery’s business structure

which will allow them to make money, even

if nothing else changes.

FUNDING GUIDANCE

Recently, I have been asked by nursery

owners what buyers think about the

Government’s recent guidance on funding,

which includes clarification on what

nurseries can and cannot charge parents

above the funded hours.

I have to say, buyers don’t really think

anything about it.

This seems strange to nursery owners,

when the conversations on the forums make

it feel like this has a massive impact.

But I don’t think any of those changes

have come as a surprise to anyone and the

majority of settings were already abiding by

those rules, so they are not really making an

impact on buyers who already assumed that

this was in place. n



officer at Hines, said: “Building and

acquiring purpose-built student living

schemes in our preferred markets is a

high-conviction investment theme for

Hines globally.

Investors attracted to

student living market

New Hines research shows student living asset

class has shifted from niche to mainstream

Investors are increasingly attracted

to the purpose-build student

accommodation (PBSA) market,

according to new research by global real

estate investor, Hines.

Its newly-released paper, Class Act:

Redefining Student Living in Europe,

highlights the sector’s rapidly-growing

appeal to international investors.

The research reveals the growth of

European PBSA as an investable asset over

the last few years, with total investment

rising sharply from 1.9% of total European

investment activity in 2019, to 5.3% as of

the end of 2024.

This increase singles out PBSA as one of

the fastest-growing real estate asset classes

in Europe, confirming its transition from

an emerging, niche sector, to a mainstream,

firmly-established one in the eyes of

investors worldwide.

David Steinbach, global chief investment

A NICHE CLASS

“The number of young people choosing

higher education in Europe remains on a

fast growth trajectory and the undersupply

of purpose-built student housing in cities

with top universities is notable.”

Joshua Scoville, Hines’s global head of

research, added: “The European PBSA

sector is a case study in how with the right

fundamentals and market conditions, a

niche asset class can build momentum

and become a high conviction theme in a

relatively-short timeframe.

“As student living continues to expand

and evolve, so do the opportunities for

real estate investors able to successfully

identify student trends in terms of location

then execute on delivering best-in-class

facilities to attract what is now a discerning,

international customer base.”

The research identifies the high, and

growing, demand from domestic and

inbound international students —

combined with a slow and under-nourished

supply line of high-quality, well-located

accommodation — as determining factors

underpinning investor confidence.

The number of young people choosing higher

education in Europe remains on a fast growth

trajectory and the undersupply of purposebuilt

student housing in cities with top

universities is notable



Population Growth in the 15-19 Cohort

Population Growth in the 15-19 Cohort

Across 1,600 NUTS Regions

Across 1,600 NUTS 3 Regions

50%

50%

40%

40%

30%

Madrid

30%

Barcelona

Valencia Barcelona Madrid

20%

Stockholm Valencia

20%

StockholmBerlin

10%

Milan

Berlin

London

10%

Vienna Milan

Rome Paris

London

Vienna Lisbon

0%

Lisbon

Rome

Turin

Paris

0%

Lille

Marseille Turin

Lille

-10%

Naples

Marseille

-10%

Naples

-20%

-20%

Bubble size represents total population size,

Bubble e.g. Greater size represents London = 8.87 total million population size,

-30%

e.g. Greater London = 8.87 million

-30% 1,000 10,000 100,000 1,000,000 10,000,000

1,000 10,000 100,000 1,000,000 10,000,000

POPULATION P AGED 15-19, 2023 (LOG SCALE)

POPULATION P AGED 15-19, 2023 (LOG SCALE)

Sources: Oxford Economics and Hines Research. As of Q4 2024.

Sources: Oxford Economics and Hines Research. As of Q4 2024.

% % GROWTH IN IN POP'N POP'N

AGED AGED 15-19, 15-19, 2018-2023

International Students by Country

International Students by Country

1,400,000

1,400,000

1,200,000

1,200,000

1,000,000

1,000,000

800,000

800,000

600,000

600,000

400,000

400,000

200,000

200,000

0

0 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

2019 2020

United Kingdom Germany France

2021

Spain

2022 2023

Italy Netherlands Other

Sources:

United Kingdom

Times Higher

Germany

Education

France

Survey

Spain

and Hines

Italy

Research.

Netherlands

As of Q3

Other

2024.

Sources: Times Higher Education Survey and Hines Research. As of Q3 2024.

Average Change in Student Numbers by

University Ranking (2019-2024)

12.0%

8.0%

4.0%

0.0%

-4.0%

10.1%

6.0%

4.4%

-8.0%

-6.3%

1-100 100-200 200-300 400-600 600-800 800-1000 1000+

Sources: Times Higher Education Survey and Hines Research. As of Q3 2024

University %

International Students

3.1%

4.9%

0.7%

University Ranking and Proportion of International Students

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200

University Ranking

All Europe

London & Paris

Sources: Times Higher Education Survey and Hines Research. As of Q3 2024.

Annual Rent Growth, Private Studios 2023/24 Academic Year

25.0%

20.0%

15.0%

10.0%

5.0%

0.0%

Poland UK Austria Portugal Czech Germany Netherlands Italy Ireland Denmark Spain Belgium France Sweden Finland

Republic

Sources: Bonard and Hines Research. As of Q3 2024.

14%

12%

10%

8%

6%

4%

2%

0%

5.9%

% Change Average

University Catchment Rent Premium to Metro Student Housing Average Rent,

by International Student Score

16%

Sources: Bonard, Times Higher Education Survey, and Hines Research. As of Q3 2024.

5.1%

0-20 20-40 40-60 60-80 80-100

Lower % International Students

Public Rents

9.1%

11.9%

Higher % International Students

Private Rents

Provision Rate and Future Pipeline by 2km University Catchment

Pipeline As Additional Provision Rate

(within 2km of University)

20.0%

18.0%

16.0%

14.0%

Oversupplied

12.0%

10.0%

8.0%

6.0%

4.0%

2.0%

0.0%

0.0% 5.0% 10.0% 15.0% 20.0% 25.0% 30.0% 35.0% 40.0% 45.0% 50.0%

Current Provision Rate (Within 2km of University)

UK Germany

France Spain Italy

Netherlands Other

Sources: Bonard, RCA, and Hines Research. As of Q3 2024.

15.2%

CULTURAL APPEAL

The number of international students

at European universities has grown by

16.3% since 2019 as institutions across the

continent launch more English language

offerings and the broad cultural appeal of

European cities remains a draw for young

people from key markets across the world.

The report also illustrates that the

flight-to-quality trend evident in other

sectors, such as office and retail, is also

prevalent in PBSA.

Europe’s top-ranked educational

institutions experience the most-significant

spike in demand, with universities in the

global top 100 seeing an average uplift in

total student numbers of just over 10%,

with the next 100 seeing a rise of 5%.

Generally, for the most-recent academic

year, Hines’s research finds that rents are

rising for PBSA, having generated positive

year-over-year rent growth over every

major country market, and in some cases

achieving rent growth that exceeds 10%.

Most importantly, rent premiums

are significantly stronger for

privately owned/managed properties

than for accommodation run by

universities themselves.

Schools with more international students

saw significant rent premiums, by as much

as 15% on average for PBSA, whereas for

the same sample set, university-managed

student accommodation delivered a

rent premium to the metro average of

closer to 6%. n



Transactional activity surges in

childcare and education markets

A new Christie & Co report reveals strong interest in childcare and education properties

Education and childcare property

markets demonstrated strength and

resilience in the first six months

of this year, with robust buyer demand

matching a growing supply of businesses

coming to market, a new Christie & Co

report reveals.

The Childcare & Education: Market

Review 2025 analyses the children’s day

nurseries, children’s social care, SEND

schools, and independent schools property

markets for the first half of the year.

And it shows that a diverse and active

buyer pool — including individual

investors, institutional funds, and charitable

organisations — is driving acquisition

activity, often with a focus on aligning

investments with ESG goals.

The anticipated rise in Business Asset

Disposal Relief from 14% to 18% in April

2026 is prompting many owners to consider

their exit strategies, contributing to buoyant

market conditions.

Despite operational pressures such as

rising National Insurance Contributions and

wage increases, many businesses are adapting

successfully, though fee sensitivity remains a

challenge in some sectors, the report says.

And encouraging macroeconomic

indicators, such as 0.7% GDP growth in

Q1 2025 and inflation easing to 2.8%,

indicated improving financial conditions

and continued market confidence.

While Consumer Price Index inflation

increased to 3.4% in May, it is expected to

remain around this level for some time.

Stable interest rates and the potential

for future cuts could further stimulate

development and acquisition activity.

DAY NURSERIES

The first half of 2025 saw heightened

activity in the day nursery market, as

operators responded to recent government

policy changes.

This has created opportunities for both

consolidation and strategic exits.

Buyer interest remains strong across

all price points and business sizes, with

demand for both leasehold settings

(making up 53.2% of deals in H1 2025)

and freehold settings (making up 46.8% of

deals in H1 2025).

Notable transactions include Kids Planet

Day Nurseries’ acquisition of the Perfect

Start Group, marking a strategic expansion

into southern England.

Not too dissimilar to what was seen in

2024, the average capacity of day nurseries

sold by Christie & Co so far in 2025 has

ranged from an average of 49.8 places for

independents to an average of 88.7 for

corporate groups.

In the first half of 2025, there was a shift

in the number of day nurseries purchased by

different buyer groups.

Appetite from the buyer group

comprising independents and first-time

buyers increased, making up 28.8% of sales

in H1 2025, compared with just 15.4% in

the same period in 2024.

Similarly, Christie & Co saw a slight

drop in corporate and large group activity,

which made up 55.8% of sales in H1 2025

compared with 70% in H1 2024.

The common theme that has run through

all day nursery sales in 2025 so far has been

the competitive tension and heightened



level of interest experienced across the

board from a range of buyers.

CHILDREN’S SOCIAL CARE

The children’s social care property market

remains robust, with properties benefiting

from C2 or C2a use commanding

premiums over those with standard

residential (C3) use.

This trend is driven by sustained demand

from local authority commissioning teams

and providers expanding services to keep

children within their communities.

In Wales, the Health and Social Care

Act, now law, makes it the first UK nation

to ban profit in fostering and children’s

residential care services.

And this legislative shift is prompting

providers to restructure, with many seeking

expert guidance to navigate the transition.

Despite a quieter first half of 2025,

Christie & Co saw a surge in children’s care

business owners actively reviewing their

preparedness for sale, focusing on legal,

financial, and operational considerations,

through the eyes of alternative operators,

buyers, and investors.

Buyer interest remains strong, particularly

for high-quality, established providers in

England, with many entrants motivated

by a genuine commitment to improving

outcomes for children and young people.

INDEPENDENT

AND SEND SCHOOLS

The UK’s independent and special

educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

school sectors are undergoing significant

changes in 2025, driven by new government

policies and evolving market dynamics.

From January 2025, the introduction

of VAT on private school fees has created

uncertainty across the independent

school market.

A recent High Court ruling upheld

the Government’s decision, prompting

schools to reassess financial models and

trading strategies.

Rising operational costs — including

increased pension contributions, energy

bills, and National Insurance contributions

— have further strained profitability,

leading to a wave of school closures and

consolidations.

Despite these challenges, schools that

have pro-actively adapted through fee

subsidies, site consolidation, and enhanced

marketing remain attractive to buyers.

Sales activity has focused on smaller

schools, with strong interest from

SEND providers repurposing sites for

specialist education.

Meanwhile, the SEND sector continues

to show resilience and growth.

Despite OECD forecasts suggesting the UK

would experience the slowest growth among

developed nations, the childcare and education

markets have defied this trend

Demand remains high, supported by

political focus and investor appetite.

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools

Bill and anticipated reforms to the

SEND funding framework are expected

to shape future operations, and while

government investment aims to expand

SEND provision in mainstream schools,

private sector involvement remains critical,

particularly for high-needs services.

FINANCES

According to Christie Finance, the

lending appetite for the UK childcare

and education sector remains strong,

underpinned by favourable economic

conditions, stable interest rates, and

supportive government policies.

A key driver is the upcoming policy

change from September 2025, which will

entitle all children in eligible working

families to up to 30 hours of funded

childcare per week from nine months old.

This is expected to significantly boost

demand across the sector.

The broker also noted that lenders

are showing a growing interest in

supporting businesses that contribute

positively to society.

The childcare and education sectors align

well with the priorities of ethical investors

and lenders who are actively seeking

purpose-led businesses.

Courteney Donaldson, managing

director of childcare and education at

Christie & Co, said: “The first half of

2025 saw exceptional momentum across

the childcare and education sectors,

significantly outperforming previous years

and, indeed, surpassing our predictions.

“While we anticipated increased activity

and consolidation, the scale of market

engagement has exceeded expectations.

“Despite OECD forecasts suggesting the

UK would experience the slowest growth

among developed nations, the childcare and

education markets have defied this trend.

“Transactional activity, capital values, and

buyer appetite have all surged.

“Notably, businesses are achieving 96% of

asking price, and we anticipate double-digit

price growth by year-end.”

Nick Brown, director and head of

Brokerage for childcare and education,

added: “As announced in Rachel Reeves’

2024 Autumn Budget, increases in

Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR)

from 10% to 14% effective 6 April 2025,

prompting more day nursery business

owners to consider their exit strategies, has

undoubtably contributed to 2025’s buoyant

market conditions.

“Heightened activity in the sector is

expected throughout the remainder of this

year, and we anticipate an incredibly busy

Q1 2026 as a result of the further BADR

increases to 18% effective 6 April 2026.

“Despite operational pressures, such as

rising National Insurance contributions

and wage increases, many businesses are

adapting successfully, though fee sensitivity

remains a challenge.” n

Despite operational pressures, such as rising

National Insurance contributions and wage

increases, many businesses are adapting

successfully, though fee sensitivity remains a

challenge



Image, Malachi Witt from Pixabay

Balancing heritage

and development

Hayden Todd, associate director at property

consultant, Aitchison Raffety, considers planning

strategies for independent schools

Independent schools have long played

a pivotal role in the education sector

and often become an important part

of local communities. However, as they

face a series of unprecedented economic

challenges, a closer examination of

operational requirements is becoming

increasingly necessary, which can

have implications for the social, built,

and natural environments where

they are situated.

A COMPLEX SYSTEM

To navigate these economic hurdles,

many schools will need to streamline their

operations, which may result in surplus

assets being sold or repurposed to raise

much-needed capital.

When considering development options,

it is essential to take a strategic approach,

as the planning system can be complex

— particularly for schools, which are

frequently affected by a wider range

of planning constraints that need to be

carefully assessed on a case-by-case basis.

SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Schools and their associated buildings

are generally considered to constitute

community facilities.

Councils often have local policies that

seek to prevent valued community facilities

from being lost or repurposed.

These policies can present significant

challenges for schools looking to optimise

development potential and need to be

carefully considered at an early stage to

understand their implications and the

best strategy for proceeding through the

planning system.

When considering development options, it is essential to take a strategic

approach, as the planning system can be complex — particularly for

schools, which are frequently affected by a wider range of planning

constraints that need to be carefully assessed on a case-by-case basis



Schools looking

to redevelop in

such settings must

carefully evaluate

the potential

implications to ensure

that any proposed

development

preserves the heritage

asset’s significance.

This may limit the

available options

Councils often require any applications

to change the use of buildings, which fall

under the broad category of community

facilities, to first demonstrate that they are

surplus to local requirements before they

will issue permission for alternative use, such

as residential.

In some cases, this may involve having

to market the property for a set period to

determine if there’s any demand for a similar

type of community use in that location.

This option needs to consider local land

designations, particularly in rural areas.

The loss or relocation of any playing

fields would also need to satisfy Sport

England requirements.

PLANNING AHEAD

The planning system has recently undergone

significant changes, including the

introduction of the new ‘grey belt’ category.

These changes could potentially

unlock development opportunities for

sites that might have previously been

deemed unsuitable for residential or

commercial development.

However, these changes also bring new

challenges, and professional planning advice

will be crucial in helping independent

schools to navigate the planning system.

Similar to releasing surplus assets, these

projects will need to consider carefully local

requirements and designations.

Changes to the planning system may help

simplify some of these projects, particularly

on sites previously constrained by green

belt designations.

MAXIMISING REVENUE

For some schools, hiring out facilities

can provide additional revenue streams.

This strategy can often be implemented

without the need for planning permission,

depending on the nature of the

facility and its use.

However, it is always advisable to check

with the local planning authority or

planning consultant to ensure compliance

with any necessary approvals.

PROTECTED SITES

Independent schools are frequently located

in historic settings, which can introduce

additional layers of complexity to the

planning process.

The development potential of these

buildings and grounds can be influenced

by the historical significance of the site and

how the new development would respond

to the local context.

Schools looking to redevelop in such

settings must carefully evaluate the potential

implications to ensure that any proposed

development preserves the heritage

asset’s significance. This may limit the

available options.

Not all buildings and sites will be suitable

for residential development.

OPEN SPACE

In some cases, independent schools may

consider utilising parts of their grounds for

residential development to generate capital.

ENHANCING ESTATES

While many schools are exploring ways

to generate capital through their estates,

others may be investigating enhancing their

facilities to remain competitive and attract

more families.

Recent changes to VAT regulations may

provide an incentive for schools to invest in

upgrading their facilities, as they may now

be able to reclaim VAT on capital projects.

CONCLUSION

Development and changes to the use of

school buildings and property can be

complex and subject to a wide range of

planning constraints.

Whether schools are looking to enhance

their facilities, repurpose assets, or navigate

various policy constraints, careful planning

and professional advice will be key to

achieving their objectives.n

While many schools are exploring ways to

generate capital through their estates, others

may be investigating enhancing their facilities

to remain competitive and attract more families



UNDERSTANDING RCAS

An RCA determines the cost of

rebuilding a property, considering

construction costs, professional fees,

demolition, and compliance with modern

building regulations.

Schools require accurate RCAs to

maintain sufficient insurance coverage,

ensuring that in the event of total or

partial loss, they can rebuild without

financial strain.

A

reinstatement cost assessment

(RCA) is an evaluation that

estimates the cost of rebuilding a

property to its original state after damage

or destruction.

It covers various factors, including

materials, labour, and clean-up, ensuring

that property owners have the right level

of insurance coverage to prevent over or

under insurance in case of events like fires

or natural disasters.

Conducted by a qualified surveyor,

an RCA is crucial for accurate insurance

premiums, but they are often overlooked.

However, with rising financial pressures,

schools must ensure that their insurance

coverage is accurate.

Undertaking an RCA correctly

can have significant financial and

operational implications.

Since 2020, post-COVID, the landscape

of RCAs has changed significantly and

schools must take pro-active steps to update

RCAs regularly, review insurance policies,

and plan for future uncertainties.

Failing to adapt to these changes could

leave schools financially vulnerable,

underinsured, or struggling with

unexpected rebuilding challenges.

By staying informed and prepared,

schools can safeguard their assets and

maintain the ongoing smooth operation

of school life.

Image, This_is_Engineering from Pixabay

Ensure you’re insured!

Simon Johns, a partner at commercial real estate firm,

Newmark, considers the risks, threats, and opportunities

of undertaking reinstatement cost assessments (RCAs)

In the past five years, RCA values have

been severely affected, caused by:

• Increased rebuilding costs — timber,

steel, and concrete have surged in

price due to supply chain issues, with

some resources experiencing a 35%

jump, peaking in 2022. Contributory

factors boil down to increased

global demand, the COVID-19

pandemic, Brexit, heavy goods vehicle

shortages, and the sharp rise in

wholesale energy prices

• Labour shortages — many skilled

workers left the construction industry

during the pandemic, leading to

increased wages and project delays

• Higher insurance premiums — since

RCAs reflect the true reinstatement

costs, insurers have adjusted policies,

often increasing premiums to

match inflation

Schools must navigate the risks

associated with under insurance or over

insurance, recognise the opportunities

for enhanced financial planning, and

mitigate threats that could arise from

miscalculations.

This article explores the risks, threats, and

opportunities associated with conducting

RCAs correctly, offering insights into how

schools can optimise their approach to

property insurance as part of good asset and

property management.

THE RISKS

A primary risk of miscalculating an RCA is

underinsurance.

If a school’s insurance policy doesn’t

cover the full cost of reinstatement, the

institution may face financial difficulties in

rebuilding after a disaster. This can lead to:

• Delays in reopening and

disrupted pupil learning

• The need for additional external

financial assistance

• Partial reconstruction due to

budget constraints, potentially

affecting the school’s reputation and

operational capacity

Conversely, overestimating the

reinstatement cost can result in excessive

insurance premiums.

While this ensures full coverage, it also

diverts financial resources away from

essential areas such as capital expenditure,

facility and sustainability improvements,

and pupil programmes.

Inflation and economic conditions can

significantly affect construction costs.

Schools that don’t update their RCAs

regularly, with overreliance on annual

index-linking of existing RCAs, risk using

outdated figures, leading to inaccurate

insurance coverage.

This issue is particularly relevant given

fluctuating material costs, labour shortages

and supply chain disruptions.

As building regulations evolve, schools

must comply with updated standards when

reconstructing facilities.

If an RCA doesn’t factor in compliance

costs, schools may find themselves

underinsured for necessary upgrades,

leading to unexpected expenses.

Schools with multiple buildings, heritage

sites, or subject specialist facilities (such

as laboratories, theatres or sports centres)

may face challenges in correctly valuing

their properties.

Inaccurate valuations can result from:

• Failure to assess all structures

comprehensively

• Misjudging the complexity of reinstating

heritage or listed buildings

• Overlooking hidden costs such as site

clearance or asbestos removal



If an RCA doesn’t factor in compliance

costs, schools may find themselves

underinsured for necessary upgrades,

leading to unexpected expenses

An inaccurate RCA can lead to disputes

with insurers, delaying claims processing.

Schools facing financial uncertainty

after a disaster may struggle to maintain

operations if insurance settlements take

longer due to valuation discrepancies.

THREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES

A well-conducted RCA ensures that

a school’s insurance coverage aligns

with actual rebuilding costs, providing

financial stability.

This enables:

• Effective budgeting and

allocation of funds

• Cost control by avoiding overpayment of

insurance premiums

• Streamlined financial planning,

allowing schools to focus on growth

and development

In cases where insurance falls short due to

an inaccurate RCA, schools may be forced

to compromise on rebuilding, resulting in

the loss of valuable assets such as historic

buildings, specialist facilities, or modern

technology-equipped classrooms.

Parents, pupils, and staff have greater

confidence in an institution’s resilience when

they know it has a comprehensive recovery

plan backed by appropriate insurance.

A school that struggles to recover after

property damage may face declining

pupil enrolment and difficulty retaining

qualified staff.

A school that fails to manage its RCA

process effectively may suffer reputational

damage, particularly if it becomes

public knowledge that the institution

was underinsured.

This can affect partnerships and overall

institutional reputation.

Schools are often accountable to trustees,

investors, or governing bodies.

Properly-conducted RCAs demonstrate

due diligence and responsible financial

governance, reinforcing the institution’s

credibility and commitment to

best practices.

But incorrect RCAs can lead

to unforeseen financial burdens,

forcing schools to:

• Cut costs in other areas, such as academic

programmes or extracurricular activities

• Seek emergency loans or external

funding, increasing financial strain

• Rely on community fundraising,

which may not be sufficient for

full reinstatement

A well-conducted RCA ensures that a

school’s insurance coverage aligns with

actual rebuilding costs, providing financial

stability. This enables:

• Effective budgeting and

allocation of funds

• Cost control by avoiding overpayment of

insurance premiums

An RCA that lacks clarity or accuracy may

lead to disputes with insurers. This can

delay claims processing, prolonging school

closures and affect the institution’s ability to

operate effectively.

In extreme cases, legal battles over

insurance settlements may arise.

Schools with accurate RCAs

can negotiate better terms with

insurance providers.

Accurate valuation reports provide

transparency, reducing the likelihood of

disputes and ensuring smoother claims

processing. This can also result in premium

discounts or tailored insurance packages.

TAKE ACTION

To mitigate risks and threats while

maximising opportunities, schools should

adopt best practices in their RCA approach:

• Engage professional valuers — Hiring

qualified surveyors or property

valuers ensures accurate and up-todate

assessments

• Regularly review assessments — RCAs

should be updated every three years

or whenever a significant change

occurs (for example, new construction,

refurbishment, or extension)

• Consider future construction costs

— Factor in inflation, material price

fluctuations, and potential regulatory

changes when estimating costs

• Maintain transparent records

— Keeping detailed documentation of

property assessments, refurbishment or

new-build costs, and insurance policies,

streamlines claims processing

• Work closely with insurers — Open

communication with insurance providers

helps ensure the school has adequate

coverage tailored to its needs

• Plan for sustainability — Integrating

eco-friendly rebuilding strategies can

provide long-term cost savings and align

with environmental commitments

CONCLUSION

The Royal Institute for Chartered Surveyors

guidelines state that the sum insured needs

to be checked on a regular basis, with an

annual adjustment to reflect inflationary

effects, and a major review every three years,

or earlier should significant alterations be

made to the insured property.

According to the Building Cost

Information Service, construction costs

are expected to increase by 17% over the

next five years.

Alongside this, given the continued

tightening of the supply side, long-term loss

of employment in the construction labour

market, prevailing shortages of skilled

labour, and expected uptick in demand

from 2026, labour costs are expected to

increase by up to 18%.

This has been compounded in the

independent schools sector by recent

increases to employers National Insurance

contributions and the National Living

Wage from the Chancellor’s Budget.

Schools must approach RCAs with

precision and diligence to ensure financial

security, operational continuity, and

regulatory compliance.

While there are inherent risks, an

accurate RCA provides significant

opportunities for financial stability,

alongside improving risk and

financial management.

By implementing best practices and

engaging professionals, schools can

navigate the complexities of property

valuation, safeguard their assets, and

reinforce their commitment to providing

quality education in a secure and wellmaintained

environment. n


Finance and Property Deals

Rare opportunity to acquire historic college

Global property consultancy, Knight

Frank, has been instructed by Inspiring

Futures Education to bring to market the

former Padworth College, a Georgian

mansion with extensive educational

facilities, located near Reading, Berkshire.

On the market for offers over £5m, the site is

set within 11.04 acres of mature parkland and

offers more than 51,000sq ft of buildings.

At its heart is Padworth House, a

distinguished Grade II*-listed Georgian

mansion extending to 21,600sq ft

across four floors.

Period features are found throughout,

including a dramatic double-height

entrance hall with vaulted ceilings, original

fireplaces, intricate cornicing, and French

doors that frame sweeping views of the

surrounding countryside.

And the wider grounds include

clusters of mature woodland, lawned

terraces and a pond.

Surrounding the main house is a range of

specialist educational buildings and facilities,

including extensive boarding and teaching

accommodation, outbuildings, and leisure

amenities such as a gym, heated outdoor

swimming pool, and tennis courts.

Together, they form a self-contained

campus with clear potential for a wide variety

of future uses.

Padworth’s origins date back to the

Domesday Book of 1086, when the land was

recorded as being held by William de Eu.

The current house stands on what is

believed to be the site of the medieval

manor once held by the Coudray family from

the 13th Century.

The earliest surviving element of the current

building is the eastern wing, where internal

oak beams date from the late 15th Century.

The estate was significantly remodelled in

1769 by London merchant and Governor of

St Thomas’ Hospital, Thomas Brightwell, who

commissioned architect, John Hobcraft, to

redesign it in the prevailing Georgian style.

Of note is the decorative plasterwork by

Joseph Rose, a master craftsman famed for his

work in the style of the Adam brothers.

The house remained in private ownership

until 1963, when it became Padworth College.

The college was founded by Oxford

academic, Peter Fison, with a mission to

bring a tutorial-style approach to sixth

form education.

Initially established as a girls’ boarding

school, it became co-educational in 2005

and joined the Inspiring Futures Education

group in 2018.

After marking its 60th anniversary in 2023,

a strategic decision was made in 2025

to close the school, bringing this unique

estate to market.

Charlie Freer, director of Inspiring Futures

Education, said: “It has been a privilege to

steward Padworth College.

“With its extraordinary heritage and idyllic

setting, we are confident that the next chapter

will honour the site’s legacy while unlocking its

full potential.”

Padworth College combines countryside

seclusion with excellent connectivity as

the estate is ideally situated just nine miles

from Reading, with access to high-speed

train services to London Paddington in

under 30 minutes.

And the M4 motorway is only six miles

away, providing swift road links to Heathrow

Airport (approximately 40 minutes by car) and

Central London.

Emma Cleugh, head of education and

charities at Knight Frank, said: “Padworth

College is a truly-exceptional opportunity,

combining historical gravitas, architectural

elegance, and extensive operational

infrastructure in a stunning parkland setting.

“Opportunities of this scale and heritage

rarely come to market.

“While the site’s most-recent use has been

as a boarding school under the C2 planning

class, the property presents potential for a

range of alternative uses, subject to obtaining

the necessary consents.

“These may include day or boarding

education, senior living, residential

development, healthcare, or hospitality.”

US firm buys UK PBSA assets

Dallas-based private equity firm, Lone

Star Funds, has announced that an

affiliate of Lone Star Real Estate Fund VII,

has agreed to purchase nine purposebuilt

student accommodation (PBSA)

assets in the UK from affiliates of Unite

Students, for £212m.

The portfolio comprises 3,656 beds

across nine PBSA assets in five university

markets: Aberdeen, Leicester, Leeds,

Nottingham, and Sheffield.

Unite Students owns, manages, and

develops PBSA.

Jérôme Foulon, global head of commercial

real estate for Lone Star, said: “This transaction

aligns with Lone Star’s global strategy of

investing in resilient sectors of the housing

market where we can leverage our expertise

to unlock long-term value.

“We continue to see attractive opportunities

in the UK’s PBSA sector, which benefits from

the growing student population demand

and a continued shortage of high-quality

accommodation.”

The deal is scheduled to close in August.

This is Lone Star’s second transaction with

Unite in the past three years.

With this latest investment, Lone Star’s

PBSA portfolio now exceeds 10,000 beds

in the UK market.


Sale of playing field unlocks

funding for secondary school

Finance and Property Deals

The White Hills Park Trust has secured

the strategic sale of a 40-acre site in

Bramcote, Nottingham, for housing,

enabling the delivery of a new purposebuilt

secondary school.

In an example of how under-utilised

public sector land can contribute to the

improvement of school estates, the land,

owned by Nottinghamshire County Council,

was a surplus former playing field, which

Broxtowe Borough Council had allocated for

housing delivery.

The sale, for an undisclosed sum, was

made possible through the collaboration of

Nottinghamshire County Council and The

White Hills Park Trust, which released the

freehold to facilitate the transaction to Miller

Homes, with the full sale proceeds used

to deliver a much-needed new secondary

school and sixth-form on the adjacent

Bramcote College site.

Housebuilder, Miller Homes, will split the site

with its newly-acquired sister company, St

Modwen Homes, to deliver 470 new homes

via two outlets: the first scheme under the new

Miller Homes and St Modwen partnership.

Savills has been acting on behalf of The

White Hills Trust to sell the land since 2022.

The trust secured Sports England and

Secretary of State approval, as well as full

planning permission for a flagship new

school, which will provide 950 places —

750 secondary school places and 200

sixth form places — with the project

commencing this summer.

James Macdonald, chief operating officer

of the White Hills Park Trust, who led the

transaction, said: “I am incredibly proud

that we have completed the sale of the land

to Miller Homes.

“It has been many years of hard work and

I would like to thank all the colleagues and

advisors involved in what is a truly unique and

remarkable outcome.

“The sale of the land gives certainty to the

new school build for Bramcote College which

will have facilities to benefit students, staff, and

the wider community”.

Olivia Haslam, development director and

co-lead of Savills Education, adds: “This is a

fantastic and significant example of making

efficient and positive use of underutilised

public sector land to generate investment

in the school estate, while delivering new

housing and wider community benefits.

“It is also a great demonstration of what

can be achieved via public and private sector

collaboration.”

Following full planning being secured,

Miller Homes will deliver a range of marketfacing

new homes, comprising 329 private

new homes and 141 affordable new homes,

including some additional keyworker rental

accommodation.

Shropshire pre-school sold to experienced operator

Christie & Co has announced the

sale of Whitchurch Pre-School, a

rural day nursery on the outskirts of

Whitchurch, Shropshire.

Established in 2002 years ago, Whitchurch

Pre-School is a ‘Good’-rated day nursery

providing childcare for up to 65 children.

It is located on a busy business park in the

Shropshire town of Whitchurch and benefits

from the improved funding and housing

developments in the area.

The setting was previously owned by Julie

Allmark for 15 years and was brought to

market to enable her to retire.

Following a confidential sales process

with Jassi Sunner at Christie & Co, it has

been sold to Hannah Vyse, who previously

owned a small group of nurseries as a joint

venture and sold it a few years ago to focus on

her young family.

Now moving to Shropshire, she wanted to

ease back into the sector with a small acquisition

and with the target of growing a group.

She said: “I was really interested in

this setting due to its great location and

superb potential.

“I would like to develop further on from the

hard work which Julie and the team have

put into the setting and to create a further

community around the nursery and what it

has to offer to the families of Whitchurch and

the surrounding areas.”

Sunner adds: “The sale of Whitchurch Pre-

School is a great example of the breadth of

buyers on our database.

“Although this was a smaller day nursery

business and set in a rural location, we still

attracted a range of interest.

“With over 15 enquiries and a range of

offers, my client accepted the offer from

Hannah as she was very experienced and

felt the business would be best placed in

her capable hands.

“Although there were difficult aspects

to the deal, we were able to navigate and

work closely with both sides to get to

completion in good time.”

Whitchurch Pre-School was sold for an

undisclosed price.


EducationInvestor Awards


2025 — the winners

The winners of the 2025 EducationInvestor Awards have been announced

The winners of the annual

EducationInvestor Awards 2025

were announced at a ceremony

in London, hosted by journalist and

broadcaster, Cathy Newman.

The awards, organised by Education

Property publisher, Nexus Media Group,

celebrate the very best in education across

categories including advisory and finance,

clinical services, property, and more.

Here, we reveal the winners of the

2025 competition. n



ADVISORY & CONSULTANCY CLASS

Consultants of the Year — Strategy

Winner: Cairneagle

Consultants of the Year — to Deal-making

Winner: EY-Parthenon

Financial Advisor of the Year

Winner: Houlihan Lokey

Legal Advisor of the Year — to Deal-making

Winner: Eversheds Sutherland

(International)

Legal Advisor of the Year

— to education institutions

Winner: VWV

Property Advisors of the Year

Winner: Newmark

Recruitment / Executive Search

Firm of the Year

Winner: Spencer Group

INVESTMENT & FUNDING CLASS

Bank / Capital Provider of the Year

Winner: Barclays

Investor of the Year

Winner: Mubadala Capital

Property Investor / Developer of the Year

Winner: Civitas

Investment Management

GRAND PRIX CLASS

ESG & Impact

SPONSORED BY LAVA

Winner: Explore Learning

Exporting Excellence

Winner: King’s College School

Wimbledon International

Market Entrant of the Year

SPONSORED BY GRANT THORNTON

Winner: Oaklands School

SEN Supporter of the Year

Winner: Widgit Software

Education Business of the Year

SPONSORED BY VWV

Winner: Corndel

EDUCATION PROVISION CLASS

Ed Tech & Content Provider of the Year

Winner: IU Group

Higher Education Institution of the Year

Winner: Arden University

Nursery Operator of the Year

SPONSORED BY THE HARKALM GROUP

Winner: Kindred Nurseries

Private School Operator of the Year

SPONSORED BY MTM CONSULTING

Winner: King’s College School

Wimbledon International

Private Tutoring Provider of the Year

Winner: Explore Learning

Skills-Training Provider of the Year

Winner: Corndel

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AWARD

Winner: Anita Gleave


Design and Build

Child’s play!

Outdoor play expert, Claire from Creative Play,

shares how imaginative play can support early years

development and strengthen a nursery’s success

A

canvas for adventure, storytelling,

and discovery — incorporating

imaginative play into outdoor

play settings not only enhances children’s

experiences, but also aligns perfectly with

the EYFS areas of ‘Understanding the

World and Expressive Arts and Design’.

Creative Play has spent more than three

decades working with nurseries across the

UK to create outdoor play spaces that

unlock children’s creativity and support

their holistic development.

And we understand how the right

environment can elevate play beyond

the everyday, turning it into a magical,

enriching experience.

PLAY MATTERS

Imaginative play is much more than fun —

it’s central to how children learn.

By stepping into roles, inventing stories,

and exploring scenarios, children build key

skills in language, social interaction, and

problem-solving.

Outdoor play settings provide an

independence not felt in a classroom —

along with fresh air, movement, and a tactile

sense of the world.

Getting out of the classroom offers

endless opportunities for children to

imagine and create worlds.

And, when you pair that with

themed equipment like a ship or a train,

it’s amazing how quickly children’s

ideas take flight.

Choosing themed equipment gives

children a starting point for play

SUPPORTING LEARNING

The EYFS framework highlights the

importance of role play and exploration in

helping children make sense of the world.

Outdoor imaginative play supports

their growing understanding of different

communities, cultures, and environments.

For example, a child clambering

aboard a pirate ship isn’t just playing —

they’re developing language through

dialogue with friends, problem-solving

as they navigate ‘rough seas’, and building

an early sense of geography and the

natural world.

These rich experiences all contribute to

the EYFS goals.

DESIGNING SPACES

Want to integrate imaginative play into

your outdoor play environment?

Here are some key considerations:

Outdoor play settings provide an

independence not felt in a classroom —

along with fresh air, movement, and a tactile

sense of the world


Design and Build

• Choose themed equipment which

sparks stories: Play equipment

like ships, trains, tractors, and fire

trucks instantly spark curiosity and

encourage a narrative. They’re not just

static structures — they’re stages for

endless adventures. They offer clear

cues for children to step into roles and

invent scenarios and give children a

starting point for play that can grow

in any direction

• Create zones for role play: Consider

breaking your outdoor play area into

different zones, each with its own

theme or purpose. A train station zone,

for instance, could feature a wooden

train alongside seating that doubles as

waiting benches. A tractor and planters

in a farm-themed area can encourage

children to explore ideas about food

and agriculture. These sections don’t

have to be large — even tiny spaces can

inspire big ideas

• Encourage movement and exploration:

Imaginative play often involves

movement — children walking along

the ‘deck’ of a ship, crawling through the

wheels of a tractor, or racing from a fire

truck to ‘rescue’ friends from a pretend

emergency. Designing your outdoor play

space to include gentle slopes, bridges,

and platforms around these themed

items can extend the adventure while

supporting gross motor development.

Questions to ask yourself about incorporating

more-imaginative play outside include:

• Does your current outdoor space invite

children to create stories? Look for

opportunities to add themed equipment

that connects to children’s interests and

sparks roleplaying

• Are all children included? Make sure

your imaginative play areas are accessible

and inclusive so that every child can

join in the fun

• How can we build on children’s ideas?

Consider if your site supports children’s

stories and provides the materials

required to extend their narratives

• A lasting impact on development:

Providing room for outdoor imaginative

play is about nurturing confident,

creative children who feel empowered

to explore. By investing in outdoor

play that blends imagination, physical

movement, and real-world themes,

you’re offering them a rich environment

to develop language, social skills, and a

sense of belonging

When we design these areas, we’re not just

thinking about how they’ll look, though.

We’re thinking about the experiences they’ll

unlock for every child — opportunities for

children to learn, grow, and thrive.

Complete outdoor play solutions — from

consultation and design, to manufacture,

installation, and ongoing support — are

critical as this end-to-end approach ensures

consistent quality, safety, and reliability. n

Creating zones can enhance opportunities for role play


Estates and Facilities Management

Image, Emma Ou (Unsplash)

Student hall fires

cost £4.7m in false

alarm callouts

University estates leaders are being

urged to review and upgrade fire

alarm systems after an investigation

revealed that a massive 91.5% of emergency

callouts to student halls of residence

are false alarms.

The study, conducted by health and

safety consultant, Rhino Safety, reveals that

England’s fire services have responded to a

whopping 10,380 fire callouts at student

accommodation developments over the last

five years, with a worrying 9,501 of these

being false alarms.

And these visits are estimated to

have cost England’s fire departments an

eyewatering £4.7m.

The study collated Freedom of

Information (FOI) requests from regional

fire services across England on total fire

incident callouts, and the numbers of false

alarms vs real fire incidents from 1 January,

2019 to 31 December, 2024.

The findings paint a concerning picture

of fire safety among England’s student

Image, G Watkins (Adobe Stock)

An FOI investigation reveals more than 90% of fire service callouts

to student accommodation developments are false alarms

population, highlighting areas where safety

is most at risk and where fire service time

could be most wasted.

The North East was responsible for

the most-frequent fire service callouts to

student accommodation, with 87 callouts

per 10,000 students — the highest rate of

all English regions.

This suggests students in the North East

are more likely to experience a need for the

fire service than their peers elsewhere, raising

questions about building standards, student

behaviour, and even local reporting practices.

Greater London comes second in the list,

with 79 callouts per 10,000 students.

Its total number of callouts alone —

3,396 — makes up about a third of all

those in England.

On the other end of the spectrum,

regions like Yorkshire and Humber (27

callouts per 10,000 students) and East of

England (23 per 10,000) have the lowestper-capita

callout rates.

This points to fewer fire incidents in these

Image, Max Whitehead (Unsplash)

regions, thanks to better fire safety measures

or newer buildings.

Alternatively, it could simply mean

students in these areas possess a greater

understanding of fire safety and

reporting practices.

The number of real fires in student

accommodation across England is

thankfully low, but they do happen.

And, while only 8.3% of all fire service

callouts in the country are to address a real

fire, England saw 861 real fire incidents in

student halls over the past five years.

South West students seem more likely to

experience a real fire in their student digs

than other regions, with a total of six real

fire callouts per 10,000 students over the

last five years.

These incidents accounted for 10.8%

of all student fire service callouts

for the region.

Greater London, East of England, and

East Midlands followed, with five real fire

callouts per 10,000 students, while the

North East, North West, South East, and

West Midlands were even more moderate

with four callouts per 10,000 students.

Yorkshire and the Humber would win the

award for safest student digs based on the

data, with only three real fires occurring per

10,000 students over the five years.

False alarms are a persistent headache for

both students and fire services, with 9,501

false alarm incidents recorded in England

between 2019-2024 — a mindboggling

91.5% of all fire service callouts to student

accommodation in the country.

North East students seem the most

culpable for false alarms, with 94.8% of



False alarms not only put pressure on fire

services, but they can also contribute to alarm

fatigue, which then leads to devastating

consequences in the event of a real fire incident

all fire callouts being unnecessary — the

highest rate of all regions.

They are followed by Greater London

students (94.3%), South East students

(93.9%), and those in the East Midlands

(91.4%) and North West (89.2%).

The average cost of a false alarm callout

for UK Fire Services is estimated at £500.

That would mean that, over these five years,

false alarm calls to student halls have cost an

estimated £4.7m in callout fees.

However, this does not take into

account the inevitable cost of disruption to

operations and lost productivity.

And this means that the true cost of false

alarm callouts to student halls could be

significantly higher, placing a major financial

burden on UK fire services and costing the

country an estimated £1bn annually.

Reflecting on the results, Simon Walter,

director and fire safety expert at Rhino

Safety, said: “For many students, living

in halls can be an incredibly exciting

time, and may be their first experience of

independent living.

“However, this can mean that things like

fire safety awareness are easily forgotten or

fall by the wayside.

“While it’s good to see that real fire

occurrences are relatively low, incidents like

the 2019 Cube fire in Bolton and the 2023

Chamberlain Hall fire in Birmingham are

significant reminders that all it takes is one

incident to put students at risk.

“It’s clear that false alarm callouts remain

a key issue for fire department resources.

“False alarms not only put pressure on

fire services, but they can also contribute

to alarm fatigue, which then leads to

devastating consequences in the event of a

real fire incident.

“Everyone has the right to live and

study in safety and we urge all students to

really engage with fire safety culture and

awareness and make it a key part of their

hall experience.”

Offering advice to estates managers, he

added: “When it comes to preventing fires

and false alarms in student accommodation

buildings, there are a number of things we

would recommend.

“One is to review and upgrade any fire

alarm systems to multi-sensor detectors

and/or zone alarm systems.

“Multi-sensor detectors are less likely

to be triggered by non-fire sources such

as steam or cooking fumes, while zone

alarms allow staff to quickly identify

and investigate the source of an alarm

before an evacuation or fire service

callout is triggered.

“There are also changes to the kitchen

and communal areas that will go towards

reducing incidents, such as installing

extraction fans and ensuring proper

ventilation to avoid steam build-up, and

providing covered cooking appliances like

toasters and microwaves.

“Regular cleaning will also prevent

grease and dust building up and potentially

triggering detectors.

“Finally, proper student education of fire

safety and the serious consequences of false

alarms is key.

“Provide clear signage around kitchens

and communal areas about actions that

can trigger alarms and run ongoing

poster, email, and social media campaigns

throughout the year.

“Universities could even monitor trends

in false alarm triggers to prevent repeat

incidents and consider introducing fines

or disciplinary action for malicious or

repeat false alarm activations in line with

university policy.” n

England regions with highest

rate of false alarms

North East

94.8% of total callouts

Greater London


South East


East Midlands


North West


West Midlands


Yorkshire and the Humber


South West


East England


England regions ranked by

highest number of fire service

callouts for student halls

North East

903 total callouts, 87 per capita

Greater London

3,396 total callouts, 79 per capita

South East


East Midlands


North West


South West


West Midlands


Yorkshire & the Humber


East England


Multi-sensor detectors are less likely to be

triggered by non-fire sources such as steam or

cooking fumes, while zone alarms allow staff

to quickly identify and investigate the source

of an alarm before an evacuation or fire service

callout is triggered



Keeping your cool

John Calder, technical director at Dura Pump,

shares his top cooling tips to keep education

facilities operational over the summer

The UK is in the midst of another

record-breaking summer, with the

start of May already confirmed as

the hottest on record.

And ensuring essential cooling systems

operate at peak efficiency is vital for schools,

colleges, and universities across the UK.

Prolonged heatwaves and higher

temperatures place increased strain

on HVAC and pump systems — vital

infrastructure that can be overlooked after

months of minimal use during winter.

In schools, colleges, and universities, a

failure of these systems can lead to serious

disruptions, health risks, or closures.

Here, I share my expert advice drawn

from over 15 years of experience to help

facilities teams stay one step ahead and

avoid costly downtime.

RUN PUMPS EARLY

In an ideal world, maintenance would

be carried out regularly throughout the

year, as regular inspections help identify

leaks, worn components, and loose

connections early.

Routine tasks such as filter replacements

and system flushing are essential for keeping

pumps in top condition and prepared for

the increased demands of summer.

It’s not uncommon for pumps to seize

after a period of inactivity.

Running your system early in the season

helps uncover these issues in a controlled,

low-risk environment, giving you time

to schedule routine maintenance tasks

before they become urgent, and harder

to manage at a time when the pumps are

needed the most.

After months of inactivity, cooling

pumps can seize or malfunction when

first reactivated, often due to hardened

seals, blocked impellers, or corrosion.

In an ideal world, maintenance would be

carried out regularly throughout the year, as

regular inspections help identify leaks, worn

components, and loose connections early



Simply switching the system on when the

hot weather hits can reveal hidden faults

during peak time.

CHECK PRESSURISATION

Getting the pressure right in your cooling

system is more than a box-ticking exercise;

it is critical to performance and safety.

If the pressure is too low, the system may

stop working entirely.

But, if the pressure is too high, this may

damage pipes, cause excessive water usage,

leaks, and shorter appliance lifespans.

It’s a simple check, but one of the

most important on your summer

maintenance to-do list.

Cooling systems rely on a consistent

pressure range to function properly.

A failing or incorrectly-configured

pressurisation unit can lead to airlocks

or system failure, both of which reduce

cooling efficiency and increase wear.

Installing pressure sensors can also help

monitor performance continuously.

Pressure sensors function as a protector,

contributing to improving their system

performance, extending the pump’s lifespan,

and reducing energy.

With alerts set for pressure fluctuations,

facilities teams can catch issues early and

intervene before they escalate.

TEST AND CALIBRATE

Even the most-efficient cooling system can

fall short if the control panel isn’t doing

its job properly.

If your controls are unreliable, it

doesn’t matter how well the rest of the

system performs.

A full inspection and recalibration

of control systems ensures your setup

is running efficiently and responding

correctly to demand.

Testing control panels, sensors, and

automation sequences can prevent future

energy waste, and reduce unnecessary strain

on the pumps themselves.

During seasonal transitions, recalibrating

your sensors and controllers is key.

If temperature or flow sensors drift

out of calibration, your system might

underperform or overcompensate, driving

up your energy usage unnecessarily, and

in today’s climate — both economic

and environmental — no organisation

can afford that.

So, whether you’re aiming to cut

operational costs, or meet sustainability

targets, ensuring your control systems are

accurate and responsive is a simple and

impactful step you can take.

CHECK FOR BLOCKAGES

The pumps are the heart of any

cooling system, and if circulation fails,

performance drops fast.

Blockages and airlocks in a cooling

system can reduce performance and prevent

chilled water from circulating efficiently.

Before demand increases, check that your

circulation pumps are working properly and

that servicing is fully up to date.

Clogged strainers or airlocks in the

system are a major contributor to poor

circulation. It’s also essential to check

that air vents, filters, and cooling coils are

clean and free from dust, dirt and debris,

as these can restrict flow and reduce

overall efficiency.

As mechanical systems with moving

parts, including electric motors, impellers

and belts, should be given a full service

ahead of summer to ensure consistent and

uninterrupted operation.

CALL THE EXPERTS

Even when a system appears to be working,

that does not mean it’s running efficiently.

Pumps may be overworked, poorly

controlled, or simply outdated. And

inefficiencies like these can lead to higher

energy bills, unnecessary strain, and a

greater risk of failure during peak usage.

Professional servicing allows you to assess

your system’s performance.

Engineers can recommend upgrades such

as variable speed drives, smarter control

systems, or replacement for antiquated

belt-driven pumps.

It’s not just about whether a system

works, it’s about how efficiently it runs.

If pumps are overworked, outdated,

or lacking smart controls, there’s a huge

opportunity to upgrade to modern energyefficient

technology.

That means better reliability,

lower running costs, and reduced

carbon emissions.”

POST-SUMMER CHECKS

Schools, colleges, and universities may

be quieter over the summer break, but

their cooling and circulation systems still

need attention.

Extended periods of inactivity,

combined with warmer weather, can affect

system pressurisation, reduce circulation

efficiency, and increase the risk of faults

going unnoticed.

For education sites, it’s about preventing

problems during the closed period and

ensuring everything runs smoothly before

the students return.

Simple checks now can prevent delays,

term-time disturbances, and costly

emergency repairs later in the school year. n



HKC launches new

security whitepaper

for schools

Document addresses school security challenges

with integrated alarm solutions

Intruder alarm manufacturer, HKC,

has published a comprehensive new

whitepaper looking at how integrated

alarm systems can help schools, colleges,

and universities respond to a wide range of

security threats.

Securing schools: Scalable integrated

alarm systems for educational environments

highlights recent findings revealing that

nearly four in five schools in the UK

experienced crime within a 12-month

period, with incidents including

vandalism, theft, trespassing, and antisocial

behaviour.

With these risks in mind, the document

emphasises the importance of robust

intruder alarm systems as a core component

of a school’s security infrastructure.

And it explores how these systems can

enhance safety for students and staff,

protect valuable assets, and support

compliance with Department for Education

(DfE) guidance and British standards such

as BS EN 50131 and PD 6662.

The whitepaper explains how modern

alarm systems go beyond basic intrusion

detection and outlines the advantages of

cloud-based platforms that enable real-time

alerts, remote monitoring, and system

management from smartphones or tablets.

These solutions reduce the burden

on onsite staff, improve response times

during emergencies, and allow for

easier maintenance through remote

diagnostics and updates.

Another key focus is on the integration

of alarm systems with video surveillance,

access control, and emergency

communication tools to create a unified

and intelligent security network.

This level of integration allows for

immediate lockdown procedures,

predefined threat-response zones, and coordinated

emergency alerts — capabilities

that are particularly vital in the event of a

hostile intruder.

The whitepaper also considers the

challenges faced by older schools,

particularly those with asbestos-containing

materials that make traditional wired

installations risky and costly.

And it highlights how wireless

technology offers a safer, quicker, and

more-flexible alternative, with minimal

disruption to school operations.

This makes wireless systems an ideal

solution for both small primary schools and

large multi-building campuses.

Paul Fitzgerald, managing director of

HKC, explains: “Educational institutions

face significant safety challenges today.

“Our goal with this whitepaper is

to provide school leaders and facilities

managers with a clear, practical guide

to building safer learning environments

through scalable, modern

alarm systems.” n

To download a copy of the white

paper, click or scan the QR code.

Our goal with this whitepaper is to provide

school leaders and facilities managers with

a clear, practical guide to building safer

learning environments through scalable,

modern alarm systems


Environmental

LocatED and Df E

appoint partners for

decarbonisation of UK’s

schools and colleges

The move forms part of Great British Energy’s investment in

PV solar panels on schools and NHS sites throughout the UK

LocatED and the Department for

Education (DfE) have announced

the appointment of delivery partners

to manage decarbonisation interventions

in three nationwide lots of 47 schools and

colleges, as part of the GB Energy Solar

Partnerships programme.

The initiative will target a total of 141

schools and colleges across three lots in

2025-26, supporting the Government’s

mission to make Britain a clean energy

superpower while breaking down barriers

to opportunity.

This programme is part of Great British

Energy’s £200m investment to install solar

panels on approximately 200 schools and

200 NHS sites across the UK.

Estimates suggest that a typical school

could save up to £25,000 per year on energy

bills through these measures.

In addition to the installation of solar PV,

schools will be receiving a suite of measures

to help reduce energy consumption, bills,

and carbon emissions.

This includes a behaviour change

programme, empowering the whole school

community to make a positive impact and

optimisation of existing controls to help

reduce energy consumption.

These measures are already having a

positive impact on 50 pathfinder schools,

where in some cases energy consumption is

being reduced by up to 20%.

LocatED has appointed Mace,

Barker, and AECOM to deliver the

project, with the process of selecting

schools to participate in the next phase

already underway.

The project builds on LocatED’s

successful Net Zero Accelerator Pathfinder,

which has already delivered decarbonisation

Estimates suggest that a typical school could

save up to £25,000 per year on energy bills

through these measures


Environmental

Image, This is Engineering from Pixabay

measures to 50 schools since autumn

2024. These included behaviour change

workshops, improved energy data

gathering, and solar panel installations.

The initiative contributes to the DfE’s

Sustainability and Climate Change

Strategy, which aims to achieve a 75%

reduction in emissions by 2037.

And it represents a key component of

Great British Energy’s first major project,

announced in March by the energy and

education secretaries.

The project will:

• Help schools reduce energy bills while

generating renewable energy

• Simplify the complex process of school

and college decarbonisation

• Make clean energy solutions more

accessible to educational institutions

• Support the Government’s commitment

to tackle climate change

This work follows a feasibility study

conducted by LocatED in autumn 2023,

which demonstrated the potential range of

decarbonisation interventions, their carbon

reduction impact, delivery costs, and

income generation potential

Lara Newman, chief executive of

LocatED, said: “This appointment marks a

significant milestone in our efforts to help

the education sector reach net zero.

“By combining our understanding of

the commercial property market with

our commitment to creating value for the

education sector, we are protecting taxpayer

interests while delivering meaningful

environmental impact.”

The delivery partners will commence

work immediately, with the first

installations expected to be completed in

schools later this year.

The project will prioritise schools in

areas of deprivation in the North East,

West Midlands, and North West, as part

of a wider programme to target at least 10

schools in each region this financial year.

Further education colleges in each

cluster will work with appointed

contractors to promote careers in

renewables, supporting growth in the

construction and renewables workforce

through work placements, skills

bootcamps, and workshops.

Jo Streeten, managing director for

buildings and places at AECOM, said:

“We’re excited to partner with Great British

Energy on this transformative project, with

our technical and advisory teams working

closely with schools across the North East

to implement clean energy solutions and

lower energy costs.

“An important element of the scheme

will be engaging pupils, sparking their

curiosity about smart energy use, and

the important role each of us plays in

achieving net zero.”

Andy Beard, managing director for

Europe at Mace Consult, adds: “Being

The initiative

contributes to the

DfE’s Sustainability

and Climate Change

Strategy, which

aims to achieve a

75% reduction in

emissions by 2037.

appointed as a delivery partner for this

transformative programme highlights the

strength of our ongoing partnership with

the Department for Education.

“Supporting the DfE and LocatED in

accelerating the decarbonisation of schools

is a critical opportunity to create moresustainable

public sector estates as part of

the UK’s broader energy transition.

“At Mace, our focus on early engagement

and actionable decarbonisation plans will

help drive this initiative, creating powerful

legacies, and bringing long-term resilience

to the education sector.”

And Tom Deacon, partner at Barker,

said: “Being part of this pioneering

programme is a testament to the hard work

and expertise of the TEEAM alliance.

“We are excited to see our proposed

concepts being tested and are confident

that they will pave the way for sustainable

transformations in the education sector.

“This programme is a critical step in

achieving the Government’s ambitious

net zero targets and we are honoured to

contribute to this vital cause.” n

By combining our understanding of the

commercial property market with our

commitment to creating value for the

education sector, we are protecting taxpayer

interests while delivering meaningful

environmental impact


Environmental

Each packaged plant room would contain a combination of plant and accessory modules in a standardised layout

Barriers remain to

heat decarbonisation

in schools

New Baxi research reveals more than a third of UK schools continue to grapple

with key challenges in achieving heating system decarbonisation

While enthusiasm for net zero and support

for low-carbon heating systems in schools

is thriving, persistent barriers remain,

according to a survey conducted by Baxi which quizzed

200 state school estates managers, consultant engineers,

and M&E contractors.

The survey found strong support for net zero within

schools, with 90% of estates managers agreeing that

net zero is a priority, a sentiment echoed by 78% of

consultant engineers and contractors.

And 99% of the school estates managers surveyed

reported having a net zero plan in place.

Experience and satisfaction with low-carbon heating

systems within schools was also high, with 95% of

school estates managers having replaced a fossil fuel

boiler with a heat pump in their buildings previously.

And 97% of all school estates managers (87% of

all respondents) viewed heat pump performance and

operating costs favourably.

Sustainability is high on the school agenda


Environmental

Prefabricated plant rooms are an

increasingly-popular solution

FACING THE CHALLENGE

But, despite the strong support for lowcarbon

heating and net zero in schools, the

study also uncovered significant challenges

faced by respondents when opting to install

a low-carbon heating system.

The most prominent was technical

difficulty as a barrier to deployment.

With 36% and 39% of school estates

managers and consultant engineers and

contractors respectively identifying the

challenge, there may be a skills gap which

can stall decarbonisation projects.

Both groups also agreed that additional

electricity capacity needed for lowcarbon

heating solutions was a challenge,

with 36% of consultant engineers and

contractors outlining this as a barrier to

decarbonisation.

School estates managers identified

other core challenges, including the

financial and technical feasibility of school

heating system changes, infrastructure

requirements, and the length of project

timelines as any major refurbishment

projects are typically restricted to the

fixed window of time of the summer

holiday period.

Additionally, the UK’s electricity

pricing is placing a persistent barrier

in front of those at the forefront of

decarbonising state schools.

Heat pumps can provide a highly-efficient,

sustainable method of supplying low-carbon

heating or hot water

PUMP IT UP

The study did identify potential solutions in

the form of hybrid heat pump systems and

prefabricated packaged solutions.

Among Baxi survey respondents, hybrid

heat pumps are a popular solution, with a

slight preference for this technology over a

standalone heat pump system.

And 80% of the consultant engineers

and contractors surveyed would be likely to

recommend a hybrid system, with support

among school estates managers increasing

with school size.

This could be attributed to several

factors, including costs, integration with

existing hydronic systems, and the shorter

installation timeframes required to install

The packaged plant room is fabricated offsite

in a quality-controlled factory environment

a hybrid solution versus converting to a

standalone heat pump system.

However, grant support for hybrid

heat pump solutions under the Public

Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS)

is limited, despite strong backing for

the technology.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Baxi is calling for four clear steps that

it believes the Government must take

to ramp up the decarbonisation of state

schools and remove barriers preventing

the installation of hybrid heating systems

within public buildings:

• Include heating system upgrades

for schools within existing public

sector support schemes, utilising GB

Energy to support

• Include hybrid heating systems within

existing support schemes

• Address the imbalance in price between

gas and electricity

• Address the skills gap to help deliver

clean energy projects n


Environmental

Sustainable action

As part of the Government’s Sustainability and Climate Change

Strategy, education settings should have a climate action plan

in place by 2025. Chris Leonard, environmental, social, and

governance manager at Findel, sets out what schools and early

years providers can do to source sustainable resources

Q: Why is sustainability important when

it comes to buying resources?

A: Sustainability is really important when

selecting resources because it ensures that

the choices we make today won’t negatively

impact future generations.

For educational resources, this

means choosing materials that are

ethically sourced, responsibly produced,

and built to last.

By selecting sustainable resources,

nurseries and schools can help reduce

their carbon footprint, cut down

on waste, and teach children about

responsible consumption.

Sustainable purchasing also supports

wider environmental, social, and

governance (ESG) goals, like reducing

deforestation, lowering emissions, and

promoting fair labour practices.

It’s not just about meeting regulations —

it’s about leading positive change.

By selecting

sustainable resources,

nurseries and schools

can help reduce their

carbon footprint,

cut down on waste,

and teach children

about responsible

consumption


Environmental

What should providers think about when

sourcing resources?

When it comes to sourcing resources,

they should aim to strike a balance

between sustainability, durability, and

educational value.

Choosing products made from recycled

or responsibly-sourced materials, like Forest

Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified

wood or plastic-free options, helps reduce

environmental impact and sets a great

example for children.

Durability is just as important; investing

in high-quality, long-lasting resources

not only saves money, but also cuts

down on waste.

Ethical sourcing is another key

consideration to ensure products are

made responsibly.

Finally, they should always think about

safety and packaging.

Opting for non-toxic materials that

meet UK/EU safety standards, along

with reducing plastic packaging, not only

protects children’s wellbeing, but also

supports a more-sustainable future.

What are some ways in which your

products are sustainable?

We’re always looking for ways to reduce our

environmental impact and offering more

eco-friendly alternatives is a key part of that.

In fact, it’s one of our main sustainability

performance targets that we track closely.

A lot of our resources are made from

recycled or sustainably-sourced materials,

like FSC-certified wood and recycled

plastics. We’ve also rolled out plastic-free

alternatives in some of our key product

lines, replacing traditional materials with

biodegradable or bio-based options.

On top of that, we’re working to

cut down on single-use plastics in our

packaging and are actively looking at ways

to extend product lifecycles and encourage

a circular economy.


packaging is sustainable?

We’re really focused on reducing the

environmental impact of our packaging

by making it both more sustainable

and efficient.

Unlike many retailers that use oversized

boxes with lots of unnecessary infill, we use

on-demand packaging to create custom

cartons for each order.

This helps reduce waste, prevents transit

damage, and allows us to fit more packages

onto delivery vehicles, which helps lower

carbon emissions.

Alongside this, we’ve made a big push to

cut down on single-use plastics, replacing

them with recyclable or biodegradable

alternatives wherever possible.

It’s all part of our commitment to

reducing waste and creating a moresustainable

future.


company as a whole is sustainable?

Sustainability is really at the heart of

everything we do at Findel, and we’re proud

to lead the way with sector-first initiatives.

We’ve set ambitious targets, like achieving

carbon neutrality by 2030 and net-zero

emissions by 2040 — 10 years ahead of the

Paris Agreement.

We’re also the first in our sector to

align with the Science Based Targets

initiative (SBTi) and have joined The

Climate Pledge, which demonstrates our

commitment to reducing carbon emissions

and tackling climate change.

But it’s not just about setting goals.

We’re making real strides in areas like

sustainable product development, achieving

zero waste to landfill, and increasing

the number of parcels delivered using

electric-only vehicles.

We’re also focused on giving back to

the environment, planting thousands of

trees through our partnership with climate

action platform, Ecologi. n


Environmental

Bradford College in net zero push

Work to connect Bradford College to

the £70m Bradford Energy Network is

underway, marking a significant move

away from fossil fuels.

Heat networks – also known as district

heating – supply heat from a central source.

Underground pipes carry hot water to

buildings on a network, enabling the rapid

decarbonisation of heating – the country’s

biggest source of carbon emissions.

And these are playing a key role in achieving

Britain’s climate goals by providing a locallygenerated,

sustainable alternative to fossilfuel

gas boilers.

The Bradford Energy Network, led by

1Energy, is set to benefit three anchor partners:

Bradford College, the University of Bradford,

and Bradford Courts.

External infrastructure work for the project

is being delivered by ThermaMech, with

underground pipes being laid throughout

the city centre.

The college joined the scheme thanks to a

£2.6m grant delivered by Salix and run by the

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Image credit, ThermaMech

The Phase 3c Public Sector Decarbonisation

Scheme (PSDS) supports energy efficiency

works in public sector buildings.

The latest internal works will connect

Bradford College’s David Hockney and ATC

buildings to the network.

Pamela Sheldon, head of projects at

Bradford College, said: “As one of the

UK’s youngest cities, Bradford must be

futureproofed for the next generation.

“Bradford College is committed to reducing

its carbon footprint, and we are proud to be

leading the way in this crucial work.

“Our transition to renewable energy will

benefit nearly 3,500 staff and students in

two of our main college buildings and marks

a major step forward in Bradford College’s

sustainability efforts.”

The Bradford District Heat Network will

use one of the largest air source heat pumps

in the UK, with an annual direct carbon

saving of over 285 tonnes per year predicted

for the college.

In total, buildings on the network will benefit

from an 85-90% decrease in emissions,

contributing to a city-wide reduction of

approximately 8,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide

equivalent in the first phase.

Positive social change is at the heart of the

Bradford Energy Network.

Alongside supporting sustainability

objectives, the project is also maximising

community and social value outcomes.

1Energy’s group project director for Bradford,

Marissa Granath, said: “The Bradford Energy

Network is a huge, long-term investment in

the city and we want this to have as much

impact as possible, not just on reducing

carbon emissions, but also bringing wider

benefits to the city.

“1Energy has made a number of

commitments to deliver these benefits – for

example, opportunities for Bradford College

and The University of Bradford students to join

us for work experience, placements, site visits,

and learning sessions.”

Contractor, ThermaMech, has also agreed

to provide study programme placements

for construction and engineering students,

live project industry masterclasses, student

and staff site tours aligned with curriculum,

resource support for the ongoing Bradford

Beck Community Project (led by Morgan

Sindall, Groundworks UK, and Friends

of Bradford Beck), and industry insights

via a staff CPD day for construction and

engineering areas.

The pipework for the Bradford Energy

Network is due to be completed later this year.

A new energy plant for the scheme will be

completed next spring, with a view to the

network providing heat by September 2026.


16 October 2025


LEADING THE AGENDA

FOR THE FUTURE OF

EDUCATION



Including



• 30+ exhibitors

• 60+ speakers



BOOK TICKETS




Environmental

Welsh schools make the grade

A construction project aimed at

amalgamating three Welsh schools onto a

single site has been awarded the highest

sustainability rating from the world’s

leading certification system.

Contractor, Wynne Construction, has

secured an ‘outstanding’ rating of 93.69%

under the Building Research Establishment

Environmental Assessment Method

(BREEAM) 2018 Education Scheme for its

work on the Ysgol Dyffryn Aeron development.

The £16.3m facility in Ceredigion, which

amalgamated Ciliau Parc School, Dihewyd

School, and Felinfach School, is only the

second educational project in Wales to secure

the top rating.

Officially opened by First Minister of Wales,

Eluned Morgan, the rating is a landmark

moment for the education hub which can

accommodate up to 210 students, with

additional capacity for ALN, Welsh language,

and pre-school provision.

Wynne Construction director, Richard

Wynne, said: “This is a hugely-significant

achievement by the whole team, especially

given the complexities around securing

such a high mark.

“To achieve an outstanding rating, schemes

must score above 85%, so to reach 93% and

be the highest-scoring education building in

the UK is phenomenal.

“Without collaboration between the client,

Ceredigion County Council, ourselves, and

the supply chain, none of this would have

been possible, and the collective parts of

the scheme should be proud of the work

that has gone in.”

BREEAM provides a sustainability

assessment framework, measuring value in a

series of categories that address factors such

as low impact design and carbon emissions

reduction. These include management, water,

energy, transport, waste, pollution, health and

wellbeing, and innovation.

Wynne said: “Unless the team has a shared

vision, these types of certifications are

impossible to achieve.

“When we were liaising with our assessor,

Hannah from RedSix, it became clear that

we were on the right path to hitting the levels

needed for an outstanding rating.

“With some guidance, we were able

to push that bit harder when it came to

ecology improvements around certain plant

species, for example.

“It’s a massive accomplishment for Wynne

Construction, Ceredigion County Council, and

the entire project delivery team.”

Dunfermline schools are world class!

The schools at Dunfermline Learning

Campus have received official Passivhaus

accreditation, making it the largest

Passivhaus education facility in the world.

The Passivhaus design, led by AHR

Architects, maximises natural light and

reduces energy use, setting a benchmark for

sustainable school design in the UK.

The development combines two high

schools into one efficient 26,66sq m building

for 2,700 pupils.

The building uses a mix of concrete, timber,

and steel frames with features such as triple

glazing, solar shading, and high insulation

further improving energy efficiency.

Councillor Cara Hilton, Fife Council’s

education spokesperson, said of the news:

“This certification is a fantastic achievement

for Dunfermline Learning Campus.

“It highlights our commitment to

sustainability and providing high-quality

learning environments for our students.”

Students and staff from St Columba’s RC

High School and Woodmill High School have

been using the building since August 2024.

Mick McGee, headteacher at St Columba’s

RC High School, said: “We’re thrilled to be part

of this ground-breaking project.

“Achieving Passivhaus accreditation not only

underscores our commitment to sustainability,

but also ensures our students learn in an

environment that promotes their wellbeing

and academic success.”

Sandy McIntosh, headteacher of Woodmill

High School, added: “This certification is a

testament to the hard work and dedication

of everyone involved in the Dunfermline

Learning Campus project.

“Our new facilities provide an exceptional

learning environment and we’re proud to be a

world leader in sustainable education.”

The project posed unique challenges given

the complexity of designing a school to meet

Passivhaus standards, which typically favours

compact, simple structures with limited Northfacing

openings, neither of which are ideal in

an education building of this scale.

The project team worked to integrate

Passivhaus design principles from the outset,

while ensuring that design quality remained at

the forefront.

And early design choices in orientation,

form factor, stacking, and frames drove

Passivhaus compliance.

With the two high schools combined

into one single structure, the design

boasts a highly-efficient form factor that

minimises heat loss.

Additionally, the project team came

together to undertake a thorough building

frame analysis to determine the best solution

balancing the key criteria of airtightness,

embodied carbon, and buildability.

Stuart Bryson, project director at AHR

Architects, said: “We are incredibly proud of

what has been achieved here.

“This project demonstrates what’s possible

when ambitious sustainability goals align with

innovative design.

“The school sets a new standard for future

educational buildings, proving that highperformance,

low-energy design can enhance

the learning environment in a meaningful way.”

Building on this success, the new Caledonia

High School, currently under construction in

Rosyth, is also following Passivhaus standards

and is due for completion next year.


Keep up to date with all the latest

Education property news.

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Education Property Issue 10 August-September 2025

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