£3m
spent on local supply chain
207
tonnes saved in CO2 emissions
16
trainees / apprentices / graduates
6
local direct employees
The third net zero school being built by us in the region.
We were appointed as the contractor to carry out extensive demolition and new build works to renovate Coundon Court Secondary School in Coventry as part of the Department of Education’s (DfE) 10-year School Rebuilding Programme.
Coundon Court Secondary School was selected as one of the first 50 schools in England to receive funding under the Programme enabling the school to undertake major re-building and refurbishment works to create modern, efficient buildings and landscaping.
Following the demolition of six redundant teaching blocks, we will build three new teaching blocks consisting of teaching spaces, a sports hall and communal facilities alongside landscaping works which will be completed in 2026.
Working in a live school environment
Coundon Court is an all-inclusive secondary school serving 1,800 pupils including students with special educational needs from Year 7 through to Year 13. Working in an existing, live school environment posed challenges for the team.
We worked collaboratively with the School and Client to overcome these by creating a robust logistics plan and comprehensive phasing programme to ensure minimal disruption and the provision of a safe environment for pupils and staff. Segregated ‘non-construction zones’ were set-up and students were relocated into temporary accommodation buildings. All demolition works will take place during the school holidays to reduce noise and dust and any deliveries to site will be scheduled outside of peak school times.
Respecting the site heritage
The current buildings comprise of 14 separate blocks with varying heights of up to three-storeys high. The new school buildings will be carefully integrated into the existing site which includes four retained and two listed buildings, to create a new, open campus.
External areas have been designed to create a series of landscaped spaces for recreation and socialising that will be accessed directly from both the new and retained buildings. Creating modern teaching spaces whilst respecting the heritage of the locally listed buildings, Old House and Coundon Court Lodge, was an integral part of the design which sought to improve the setting of these heritage assets.
Creating a sustainable setting for students
As part of the landscaping works, we will protect and retain the majority of trees across the 15.5 hectares and will increase planting to ensure biodiversity.
In line with Government requirements, the Department for Education is committed to reducing carbon emissions to zero across their estate by 2050 and creating healthy and productive school environments. The new school buildings will be net zero carbon in operation and will include:
- Solar PV panelling for sustainable energy
- Air source heat pumps
- Rain gardens and sustainable drainage
- Enhanced landscaping
- Use of light colours on hard surfacing and green roofs to limit the urban heat island effects.
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