Reds10, a leader in industrialised construction, has been awarded a £19.4m project for the construction of a new school building for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) at Connaught Special School in Newham, east London. Reds10 will deliver a two-storey, all-through education facility for pupils aged 4 to 18, with capacity for 105 students. The school will specialise in supporting autistic children with severe learning difficulties, providing an inclusive environment that supports their development throughout their educational journey. This project will help address the significant shortage of SEND school places in Newham.  After being awarded the contract to deliver the project by The Department for Education (DfE) in the summer, construction is now underway, with completion scheduled for winter 2026/2027. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on 3rd November 2025, bringing together key partners and stakeholders from the DfE, London Borough of Newham and Learning in Harmony Trust to mark the official start of work on the site. This included Cllr Sarah Ruiz, Deputy Mayor & Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education & Sustainable Transport at the London Borough of Newham, as well as Gary Wilkie, CEO of the Learning in Harmony Trust and Nithra Subramaniam, Headteacher of Connaught Special School. Connaught Special School, part of the Learning in Harmony Trust, is already making a significant difference in the lives of children with SEND, providing tailored teaching and resources that meet their individual needs and extending vital support to their families. The new facility will take the place of the temporary site currently operating in Upton Park, which accommodates 45 SEND pupils, and will offer a permanent, purpose-built setting designed to deliver the highest standards of education and care. Accommodating significantly more pupils, the new school is located just off Royal Road, near Prince Regent DLR station offering strong transport links for pupils, families, and staff. Designed by HLM Architects, and in partnership with Newham Council and Learning in Harmony Trust, the SEND facility will feature purpose-built classrooms, flexible activity spaces, outdoor play areas, accessible parking, and interiors tailored for accessibility and student wellbeing including considerate acoustics and calming colours to support children with SEND. The new school building will prioritise sustainability, targeting BREEAM Excellent accreditation with energy-efficient materials and low-carbon solutions integrated throughout. Using modular components manufactured at Reds10’s pioneering offsite factory facility in East Yorkshire, the build will ensure quality, consistency, and minimal on-site disruption. Importantly, the school has also been designed to serve the wider Newham community. Outside school hours, its facilities will be available for local use underlining a shared commitment to social value, inclusion, and long-term impact. Joe Shepherd, Managing Director – Public Sector at Reds10, said: “In partnership with the DfE we are proud to start the delivery of this purpose-built SEND school in Newham, which will become the latest example of the sustainable, innovative and high-quality educational facilities that our advanced construction techniques provide. This project represents a vital investment in specialist education, helping address a chronic shortage of SEND places in Newham, and we’re proud to create a space where neurodiverse pupils will be supported to reach their full potential.” Councillor Sarah Ruiz, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education & Sustainable Transport, commented: “This exceptional new state of the art, purpose-built facility is a vital and very welcome addition to Newham’s family of schools. Designed with SEND needs specifically in mind, it will be welcomed by the parents, carers and the young people of this borough. “Connaught School, with its 14 classrooms and specialist design, including therapy rooms, a sensory room, soft play area and exceptional access to all areas will mean that more of our children and young people with SEND can have their needs met in the borough.” Gary Wilkie, CEO of Learning in Harmony Trust, commented: “Breaking ground marks a major step towards realising our ambition to create a school that fully meets the needs of its pupils and supports the wider community. Working with Reds10, we’re bringing to life a nurturing, modern environment where every child will have the opportunity to thrive and reach their potential.” Nithra Subramaniam, Head Teacher at Connaught Special School, added: “It’s incredibly exciting to see work begin on such an important space for our pupils. Every detail of the new building has been designed with their needs in mind, all helping to create an environment where children feel safe, supported and ready to learn each day.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Global development consultancy, Arup, has designed a pioneering Net Zero Carbon in operation (NZCio) Welsh school campus using performance modelling technology from global climate tech firm, IES. IES’s Virtual Environment (VE) dynamic modelling software played a central role in the design of the Mynydd Isa Campus, helping to reduce carbon emissions by over 100 tonnes per year. Designed in 2023 and completed in 2025, the two-storey, 10,500m² campus meets Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) ‘Excellent’ standards, reflecting strong performance across areas such as energy use, materials, water and occupant wellbeing.  The IESVE software was used to assess and refine energy performance, taking into account overheating risks under various climate scenarios, including typical years, warm summers and prolonged heatwaves.  The solutions included installing more than 1,000 solar panels, which are expected to generate over 500,000 kWh of electricity each year. This enables the building to produce as much energy as it consumes. To manage comfort, a complex cross-ventilation chimney concept and a ‘traffic light system’ in classrooms is used to alert teachers to open/close windows. The project also made a 25-year performance commitment to ensure the building remains efficient and resilient to future climate conditions.  Niall Gibson, Building Performance Specialist at IES, commented, “This project exemplifies how performance modelling technology can deliver on multiple fronts – achieving Net Zero Carbon in operation, supporting BREEAM ‘Excellent’ certification, and closing the gap between design and real-world performance. “Rising heat is putting huge pressure on infrastructure that was never designed for these conditions. This isn’t about futureproofing; it’s about catching up with a crisis that’s already here. If we’re serious about tackling climate change, making existing infrastructure more resilient, efficient, and climate-ready must be a national priority. We’re proud to support Arup in delivering a school that sets the standard for future-proof public buildings.” Steven Burrows, associate building physics engineer at Arup, said, “I feel honoured to have worked on this project from the very beginning and take it through to completion. IESVE modelling played a significant role in the design of the scheme – from developing the complex cross ventilation chimney concept to achieving Net Zero Carbon in operation (NZCio). It’s an incredible achievement that the building generates as much energy as it will consume over the course of a year.” The campus provides nursery, primary, and secondary education for more than 1,300 pupils. As local authorities and design teams face increasing pressure to decarbonise public infrastructure, the Mynydd Isa project highlights the vital role of whole-life performance modelling and trusted simulation tools in designing and delivering buildings that truly meet net-zero commitments. Learn more about the project and IES’s pioneering technology here: https://www.iesve.com/discoveries/view/55765/arup-mynydd-isa Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Willmott Dixon has secured planning permission to deliver the new Outwood Academy Kirkby in Nottinghamshire, paving the way for a full replacement of the school’s dated 1970s buildings. Ashfield District Council has approved the scheme, which is fully funded by the Department for Education through its School Rebuilding Programme, with completion targeted for the 2028/29 academic year. The project will create a modern, energy-efficient learning environment designed to meet contemporary curriculum needs and community expectations. Central to the plans are improved specialist teaching areas, dedicated sixth-form facilities and an upgraded sports offer, supporting both pupils and local users. The new main building will be constructed on the existing site, with the design focused on durability, low running costs and a better day-to-day experience for students and staff. To maintain continuity of education, the works will be delivered in phases. A temporary teaching block will be installed and operated alongside the retained lower school and existing sports facilities, ensuring classes can continue with minimal disruption while construction progresses. Once the new school is ready for occupation, the current buildings will be safely demolished and the external sports areas completed, providing the final piece of the campus upgrade. Nick Heath, director of delivery at Willmott Dixon, said the scheme reflects the contractor’s long-standing ties to the county and its emphasis on social impact. “With strong roots in Nottinghamshire, we’re delighted to be the selected partner for Outwood Academy Kirkby. The new facility will provide an enhanced offering to the local community, including dedicated sixth-form spaces and the transformation of the current on-site sporting facilities. As part of the project, we will also be engaging with local schools and colleges to provide careers advice and work experience opportunities. Social value is at the heart of what Willmott Dixon does, and we hope to leave a positive legacy by helping pupils prepare for their future. We have already started working with Outwood Academy Kirkby pupils, delivering mock interviews to help hone their skills for future opportunities.” With planning now in place, enabling works and detailed sequencing can begin ahead of the main build. The approved approach balances the need for a safe, live school environment with the delivery of a high-quality education estate that will serve Kirkby and its surrounding communities for decades to come. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Eight education building schemes worth more than £270 million have moved into the delivery phase after the Department for Education (DfE) approved the latest tranche of rebuild and refurbishment contracts. Kier secured the largest award with a £69 million full rebuild of Upton-by-Chester High School, reinforcing its strong position on the DfE’s School Rebuilding Programme. Tilbury Douglas won three schemes totalling just over £74 million, covering Pershore High School in Worcestershire, Applebee Wood Community Specialist School in Lancashire, and East Durham College. Bowmer & Kirkland has been appointed to deliver the £44 million rebuild of Gosford Hill School in Oxfordshire. In south-west London, Willmott Dixon has signed a £35 million contract for Barnes School and Hospital. Offsite specialist Reds10 also features among the winners with a £20 million SEND school in Suffolk, reflecting continued momentum for modern methods of construction across the education estate. The projects form part of the government’s multi-year programme to modernise and improve school and college facilities, addressing condition issues while creating energy-efficient, future-ready learning environments. Each scheme will now proceed through the DfE’s regional construction frameworks, which cover all nine English regions and are designed to streamline procurement, support local supply chains and maintain consistent standards. Collectively, the package represents a significant investment in education infrastructure, promising upgraded teaching spaces, specialist facilities and improved accessibility for pupils and staff. Ground investigations, detailed design and enabling works are expected to begin shortly, with build schedules to be confirmed via the respective framework lots as each project progresses. DfE School and College Project Awards Project Contractor Value (£m) Type Upton-by-Chester High School Kier £69.3m School rebuild Gosford Hill School Bowmer & Kirkland £43.8m School rebuild Barnes School and Hospital Willmott Dixon £34.9m School & hospital Appleby Grammar School Morgan Sindall £29.2m School rebuild East Durham College Tilbury Douglas £26.5m College rebuild Pershore High School Tilbury Douglas £26.4m School rebuild Applebee Wood Community Specialist School Tilbury Douglas £21.5m SEND school Angel Hill School Reds10 £20.3m SEND school Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

GRAHAM has been awarded a c.£14 million contract by Hillingdon Council for the design and construction of a new academic building for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) at Meadow High School in Harefield. Meadow High School is a mixed-gender SEND secondary school catering to 257 pupils in school years 7-14 (aged 11-19) with Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). There are SEND schools in Hillingdon, which are at full capacity and, with demand growing in recent years for support for pupils with additional needs, there is a pressing need to increase facilities in the borough. This new 2276m²’ sq ft, two-storey academic building will provide a supportive and best-in-class learning environment while enhancing existing capacity for up to 100 pupils. Works will include the creation of a range of learning spaces and a multi-use games area, along with extensive landscaping surrounding the building. Additionally, the installation of temporary classrooms, ancillary structures, heat pump and substation enclosures, along with revised vehicular access, car and cycle parking and associated external works. Cllr Susan O’Brien, Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education, said: “We continue to deliver on our pledge to provide children in Hillingdon with a high quality and fully inclusive education. This exciting project will create more school places for children with SEND, helping them to reach their full potential in a supportive learning environment, and I’m looking forward to seeing it take shape.” Cllr Jonathan Bianco, Hillingdon Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Property, added: “Our school improvement and expansion programme is delivering excellent facilities across the borough, and this new facility in Harefield will enhance our offer. Our continued investment locally will also help reduce the council’s reliance on expensive independent special school places.”  Pat O’Hare, Regional Director at GRAHAM, said: “This new building will significantly improve SEND facilities and capacity in Meadow High School, also contributing to meeting increasing demand in the wider borough. Thoughtfully designed to ensure an optimum, inspiring, safe and high-quality educational environment for pupils with a range of additional needs, we are excited to deliver this fantastic and much needed project.” GRAHAM will work in collaboration with a project team that includes architect Noviun Architects and structural and civil engineer Hydrock. Construction commenced this summer, with project completion anticipated in Summer 2026. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Work is set to begin at North Herts Education Support Centre (NHESC) at Briar Patch Lane in Letchworth,  where Ashe Construction is delivering a new multi-million pound, two-storey teaching centre for Hertfordshire County Council. NHESC, rated outstanding in all areas by Ofsted, provides an alternative education for excluded students, or students who are at risk of exclusion, with the aim of supporting a return to permanent full-time education. The expansion will increase capacity from 33 to 40 pupils, ensuring more children can access education through alternative provision. This latest award continues Ashe’s strong track record of successfully delivering projects for Hertfordshire County Council. Ashe has already completed several schemes for Hertfordshire County Council, thanks to the company’s reputation for quality, value and responsible project delivery. Over the past 18 months, Ashe has worked in partnership with the county council and NHESC in shaping the brief, developing the design, and securing planning permission. The new building will provide five general teaching classrooms and four specialist spaces, including IT, science, and food technology. A common room, fitness suite, administrative areas, and dedicated support spaces will also be included. Once the new centre is complete, pupils will move in and Ashe will then demolish the existing building and deliver enhanced outdoor spaces, landscaping, and car parking. Richard Clay, Finance Director at Ashe, said:  “Creating an inspiring, well-designed learning environment is central to helping the Council achieve its vision for this outstanding centre. This project demonstrates the strength of working in partnership with the council to deliver quality projects to benefit the local community. “We’ve built a strong relationship with Hertfordshire County Council based on trust, value, and quality delivery – and this project demonstrates that in action.” Cllr Mark Watkin, Executive Member for Education, SEND and Inclusion, Hertfordshire County Council, said: “We are committed to ensuring that every child and young person in Hertfordshire has the opportunity to thrive and receive the support they need to fulfil their potential. The expansion of NHESC is a vital step in that journey, providing high-quality, alternative provision in an environment designed to inspire and empower. This investment reflects our dedication to building a sustainable, inclusive and thriving Hertfordshire.” Environmental stewardship is also a priority for Ashe. The Briar Patch site is surrounded by mature trees and wildlife habitats, and while some trees must be removed, Ashe will plant two replacements for every one lost. The ecological plan also includes installing bat and swift boxes and ensuring space for badgers and other wildlife. The new building has been designed for energy efficiency with high levels of insulation, air source heat pumps, and LED lighting. The scheme has been designed by Saunders Boston, with Pellings as project manager and Gleeds as cost consultant. Completion is scheduled for Autumn next year and was procured under the Pagabo Medium Works framework. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Caddick Construction has been selected for a £22 million re-build project at Harrogate College’s main campus and install a new green technology centre, becoming the second project to be delivered on behalf of Luminate Education Group. The new Harrogate College campus will include a 3,997 sq m multi-storey teaching block and a 988 sq m single storey workshop. Caddick’s appointment to the project follows the contractor’s completion of an £11.4m contract to build Pudsey Sixth Form College in Leeds, where building work commenced in 2024. Open in time for the 2025/26 academic year, Pudsey Sixth Form College included a new teaching facility to cater for 600 students aged 16 to 18 years, expanding the sixth form provision across Leeds. Building work in Harrogate will now see Caddick develop the town’s new college building, fulfilling Luminate Education Group’s ambition to better align the curriculum with the region’s green technology skills needs. Located at Hornbeam Park, the new development has received £20m funding from the Department for Education and will replace the former Harrogate College building, which is set for demolition. Caddick is expected to reach completion of the project in time for the 2026/27 academic year. Both Pudsey Sixth Form College and Harrogate College have been procured through the NEPO Construction Works solution, to which Caddick was appointed in 2023. Steve Ford, Regional Managing Director, Caddick Construction North East & Yorkshire commented: “Our appointment to Harrogate College is a mark of our experience in delivering high quality education projects and our presence on the region’s leading procurement frameworks, both of which will result in an efficient and exceptional delivery. We’re very pleased to be building on our relationship with Luminate Education Group following our completion of the new Pudsey Sixth Form College in time for the new academic year.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Morgan Sindall Construction has officially broken ground on the Orchard View Academy site. The construction firm was appointed by Buckinghamshire Council to deliver a new primary school within the Kingsbrook development in Aylesbury. Procured through the Southern Construction Framework, the scheme will deliver a two-form entry primary school designed to accommodate 420 pupils, along with a 60-place nursery, 12 place SEND provision and a variety of outdoor play areas. The building has also been laid out allowing capacity to be expanded to 630 pupils. Scheduled for completion in summer 2026, the school will be operated by Inspiring Futures Partnership Trust. Its two-storey main building will feature classrooms for each year alongside the main hall, catering areas, staff and office areas, a Learning Resource Centre, activity studio, and a space to teach practical food tech, science, and design & technology lessons. The site’s main building will also include a SEND unit, consisting of two classrooms, two safe rooms, sensory rooms, a therapy room and life skills spaces. An adjoining one-storey building will house a nursery with two playrooms as well as WC, kitchenette, and storage facilities. Externally, the project will create a Sports England standard pitch, multi-use games area (MUGA), hard court, and dedicated playgrounds for nursery, SEN, and specific Key Stage pupils. The building’s structure will include offsite manufactured timber frame walls, supporting a first-floor structure of pre-cast hollow core concrete planks and an insulated timber roof cassettes system. The main building will also include a pre-cast lift shaft and staircases. Morgan Sindall has leveraged its Intelligent Solutions approach to ensure the school’s design, construction, and operation are as sustainable as possible. This method aligns with Buckinghamshire Council’s environmental strategy and commitment that this new school will be Net Zero in Operation. The digital whole life carbon assessment and reduction tool CarboniCa has been utilised to inform the school’s creation, which has seen the design team adopt a fabric-first approach to make the site as efficient as possible. The school’s external envelope has been designed with a highly efficient U-Value (a measurement of heat transfer) to ensure optimal thermal comfort and with an airtightness performance that will minimise energy losses. The window glazing has similarly been designed to balance heating and thermal comfort from natural sunlight while avoiding excessive heat levels. A large photovoltaic (PV) panel array will be installed on the roof and ventilation will predominantly be achieved through natural means where possible, such as opening windows and ventilation stacks to circulate fresh air. Passive ventilation will also be supported by local NVHR (Natural Ventilation with Heat Recovery) units, positioned in teaching spaces to enhance airflow and maintain indoor air quality while optimising energy efficiency. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Morgan Sindall Construction has completed the first phase of transforming Gloucester’s Art Deco Debenhams building, creating a new City Campus for University of Gloucestershire. Designed by ADP Architecture and delivered through the Pagabo Major Works framework, the adaptive reuse of the former department store offers a state-of-the-art centre for teaching, learning, and community services. The scheme is set to be a major catalyst in the reinvigoration of Gloucester’s high street and its wider city centre regeneration. The City Campus in Kings Square is home to University of Gloucestershire’s Education, Psychology and Social Work programmes, forming a new city-centre base for 1,200 students and staff. It is also set to house public-facing services, including Gloucester’s central library, and is already home to a new Arts, Health and Wellbeing Centre. These developments are anchoring the University firmly in the community to create a thriving city hub. The project has embedded learning and innovation into the everyday life of the city, making education a visible and integral part of urban regeneration. To date, the team has completely transformed the ground and first floors of the building to offer lecture and seminar rooms, study spaces, and space for a city library, while upgrading the whole building envelope. Future phases of the project will see all five-storeys of the 20,000m² building fully modernised. The complex retrofit has been sensitively carried out across different sections of the site, dating back to the early 1900s, 1930s, and 1950s. Working closely with a conservation officer, the team retained original features to preserve the heritage and character of the iconic building, which sits in the heart of Gloucester City Conservation Area. To bring the scheme up to contemporary energy standards, low-carbon design technologies and intelligent building systems for heating, cooling, ventilation, and lighting, including air source heat pumps, were implemented throughout. The team also carried out upgrades to ensure fire safety regulations are met in the conversion from retail to educational use. Externally, the team renovated and enhanced the building’s iconic Art Deco elevation, including restoration of the leaded tracery from the original shop windows. Since construction began, the Campus has delivered over £44 million in social value to the local community, which is a 74% return on the total project cost. This has been achieved through job creation, strengthened partnerships with local businesses and the third sector, and environmentally conscious building practices. A key driver of this impact has been the active engagement of 53 SME’s, helping to boost local supply chains and support inclusive economic growth. By bringing university students into the heart of Gloucester, the development is revitalising the high street, boosting footfall and vibrancy, and fostering a renewed sense of local pride. Richard Fielding, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in the Midlands, said: “It’s been brilliant to see this old Debenhams building get a new lease of life as a university campus. These big retail spaces have sat empty for too long, so to transform one into a place that will bring thousands of students into the heart of Gloucester is exactly what the city needs. “The building had real character that we wanted to preserve – working with those Art Deco features and the different sections dating back over decades was a fascinating challenge. It’s always satisfying when you can retain that sense of history while creating something completely new and fit for purpose. “The University has been fantastic to work with, and knowing that it is now home to more than 1200 students and staff makes it a really meaningful project for the local area.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Caddick Construction has reached completion of a new campus for the University of Cumbria in Barrow, forming part of the university’s investment in engineering, advanced manufacturing and health. The dockside campus, which spans 2.6 hectares, has a unique design inspired by Barrow’s maritime heritage and includes accessible and flexible teaching spaces, offices and catering facilities. Now launched, hosting higher education provisions from the Institute of Engineering, Computing and Advanced Manufacturing, and the Institute of Health, the striking new development includes exhibition and meeting spaces and specialised workshops. Designed with sustainable measures incorporated, the campus includes features to optimise natural light, solar panels to power mechanical services, a cloud BMS system and an air source heat pump to eliminate the need for gas. The new building, which has been designed to resemble a submarine surfacing from water, includes a bespoke rain screen cladding system and curved roofline with glazing, all of which have achieved a U value of 0.15W/m2k. Throughout construction, Caddick also created £1.8m of social value for the community by partnering with a range of organisations and charities. This included support for a school reading programme led by Hello Future, as well as donations made to the Furness Homeless charity, which is dedicated to providing wrap-around support for adults facing homelessness Dave Saville, Regional Managing Director of Caddick Construction North West, commented: “We’re proud to have delivered this landmark project, which sets a new benchmark in educational design and demonstrates the power of construction when it’s rooted in community impact. Beyond the campus itself, we’re especially proud of the social value created by the team in Barrow, which has ensured the benefits of this project extend well beyond its walls.” University of Cumbria’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Brian Webster-Henderson OBE, said: “The opening of our Barrow campus marks a transformative moment for both the University of Cumbria and the town itself. It is the result of nearly a decade of collaboration, vision, and belief in Barrow’s potential. This development directly supports our T2030 strategy, focusing on place, people, and partnership, by expanding access to higher education, nurturing local talent, and strengthening ties with industry and community. Barrow is now a university town, and that unlocks new possibilities for regional growth, national resilience, and lifelong opportunity.” The University of Cumbria adds to a growing portfolio of education projects being delivered by Caddick across the North West, including the newly completed 24,000 sq. ft expansion of Loreto College in Hulme.  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals