Willmott Dixon Interiors has been appointed to deliver a new school in Surrey for high-performing mathematicians.

The will carry out a refurbishment of Surrey Maths School (SuMS), a state-of-the-art three-storey building on Mary Road near Guildford. SuMS is one of a small number of state-funded, specialist schools for students with a flair for mathematics and other STEM subjects.

It is currently open in temporary accommodation and will serve up to 200 young people aged 16-19 when fully operational from mid-2025.

Previously used as office space, the existing SuMS building will be stripped out and reconfigured to create 28,911 sq ft of new internal spaces. It will house classrooms, quiet rooms and lab spaces, as well as specialist provision for SEN students, while there will also be an auditorium, school hall and canteen.

Willmott Dixon interiors will also carry out updates to the building’s mechanical and electrical systems as part of the refurbishment, including new lighting and air handling units. Improvements will also be made to the existing roof and guttering.

It is the first project to be delivered by the contractor via the Department for Education’s (DfE) construction framework and follows the earlier completion of enabling works on site.

As part of its commitment to social value, Willmott Dixon Interiors will deliver a series of local community initiatives alongside the main works. They include employment of up to two T-level students and partnerships with five local schools, creating opportunities for work experience placements, site visits and workshops.

Josh Armstrong, head of new business at Willmott Dixon Interiors, said:

“We are excited to be delivering our first project through the DfE’s framework agreement. SuMS is a fantastic addition to schools in the Surrey region and will provide an exceptional teaching environment for local young people. Our refurbishment will create a number of bespoke spaces for teaching and learning, and we look forward to handing over the completed project next year.”

Willmott Dixon Interiors has delivered projects across an extensive range of facilities, such as teaching space, academic and administrative office space, and student facilities, ranging from accommodation to libraries. Notable projects include the £47 million refurbishment of London South Bank University’s London Road Building, and the refurbishment of a multi-purpose space for students at the University of Westminster’s CSE Innovation Centre.