WORK began on Tuesday on Coundon Court School as part of the Department of Education’s (DfE) ten-year Schools Rebuilding Programme.
The scheme promises major rebuilding and refurbishments of schools across England.
Wates will be building the ‘net-zero’ school using its Adapt solution which uses sustainable modern methods of construction to manufacture components off-site, ensuring less waste and higher finished quality.
With school estate representing a quarter of public sector carbon emissions, the successful decarbonisation of school buildings is essential to help the UK successfully deliver on its target for a 2050 net zero carbon economy.
Wates will deliver three new blocks for Coundon Court School, providing space for a total of 2,100 students.
Facilities will be upgraded, including the courtyard and quad areas. Work is due to be completed in 2026.
The school will remain operational whilst the site is being built and the Singer building is being preserved at the centre of the project to maintain its rich history.
Construction work at Hartshill Academy in Nuneaton and Kineton High School in Warwick – the other two builds being carried out by Wates – includes replacing existing school buildings, providing space for 1,050 and 1,100 students respectively.
The new, state-of-the-art buildings will have improved fabric performance to increase energy efficiency, including air source heat pumps, solar panels on the building’s roof and ground level canopies alongside biodiverse green roofs.
Coventry and Warwickshire workforce is being used to deliver the project and six new jobs have been created through Wates’ supply chain and the company is giving back to the community through work experience and employability sessions.
John Carlin, Wates’ regional director, said the company was proud to continue its work for the DfE, delivering another set of innovative state-of-the-art net-zero school buildings to improve the learning environment for school children whilst helping the education sector tackle its significant carbon emissions.
