Dear Reader,


Welcome to the first edition of School Building Magazine for 2025. As we embark on a new year, we are excited to bring you the latest insights, innovations, and updates from across the educational construction sector. The year ahead promises to be an important one as we collectively tackle key challenges and embrace fresh opportunities to enhance learning environments for students and educators alike.


Sustainability, modern methods of construction, and adaptive learning spaces remain central to our industry’s progress. We are eager to see how advancements in technology, new funding strategies, and evolving government policies will shape the future of educational buildings. Collaboration and forward-thinking design will continue to be vital as we strive to deliver sustainable, cost- effective, and inspiring facilities.


In this issue, you’ll find expert perspectives, project showcases, and thought leadership from across the sector. We hope to inspire meaningful conversations and share best practices that drive innovation. Thank you for joining us on this journey—let’s build a better future for education together.


Joe Bradbury Editor


Consulting Editor - Joe Bradbury press@wavcoms.co.uk


Press Releases - Lyn O’Donnell press@wavcoms.co.uk


Sales Consultant - Kevin Edgeworth kedge@wavcoms.co.uk


Design - Ellie Rich ellie@ellierichdesign.com


Editorial Dept CWestwood@datateam.co.uk


Circulation datateam@c-cms.com Enquiries 01341 250137


Publisher’s Statement.


School Building is published 4 times a year. Printed in England. All rights reserved. No part of School Building may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without prior permission of the publisher. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of editorial content, the editor and publishers do not accept responsibility for errors or loss and damage caused by any statements, claims or observations made by contributors, authors and their agents.


Published by DataTeam Business Publishing


Company Registration no. 1771113 ISSN 2631-8938


Winter 2025 issue 4178


School building 10


A vision for 2025: Building better schools for the future


The landscape of the UK’s educational infrastructure is evolving, with new challenges and opportunities shaping how we approach the design and construction of school buildings.


12 18 20 26


Willow Dene School receives new SEN modular building for sixth form students


Willow Dene School needed to expand its estate with a new SEN building for its sixth-form students. Leading modular building specialists, Wernick Buildings were willing and able to take on this challenge.


How global conflicts impact UK school construction


In an interconnected world, events far beyond our shores increasingly shape domestic industries in profound ways. One of the most pressing issues today is the impact of global conflicts on construction, particularly in sectors as essential as education.


Bradford Grammar School partners with NVC Lighting for major energy savings


Bradford Grammar School, a high-performing independent grammar school, has partnered with NVC Lighting, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of high- quality and cost-effective commercial LED lighting solutions, to transform its estate and achieve savings of over £65,000 annually on energy costs.


Collaboration & sustainability focus for Altro in education


BAM Construct UK has collaborated with Altro and Recofloor to achieve significant sustainability gains on a number of major school construction projects.


SPECIAL FEATURES


12 External Building Envelope 20 Lighting & Interior fittings 28 Heating, Ventilation & Air Quality


With nearly 100 years’ experience in manufacturing and supplying dependable, efficient and high-quality solutions, Thorn Lightings extensive portfolio of products and technologies ensure that we can meet the needs of all applications, including education, health and care, urban life and architectural, sport, office, retail, road and tunnel.


Read more on page 25 Winter 2025 issue 4178 3


Building Specifiers can subscribe free of charge to this magazine, please visit


buildingspecifier.com/subscriptions


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