St Edburg’s CE Primary School expansion

Back in 2016 we handed over the new St Edburg's CE Primary School in Bicester. Fast forward to now, and new housing in the area means that the 420-place school needs to be expanded so it can accommodate more students.

The customer specifically requested for our team to return and built a satellite school just down the road from the original building. This new satellite school will house the nursery, reception and key stage one classes, with older years remaining at the original site.

Our team were joined by key stakeholders at the groundbreaking event in May 2023

Designed to inspire young minds

The creation of a whole new building poses a unique opportunity to design the space specifically for the learning and development needs of younger children.

The design for the school helps to seamlessly blend inside and outside spaces to encourage free flow learning, with all classrooms having access to outdoor space. Outside learning plays a key role in early development, meaning this will be highly beneficial to school's youngest students.

Incorporating sustainability

The new building will be net-zero in operation (regulated) and is designed to be BREEAM Very Good. As such, the school's design incorporates numerous sustainability elements to help lower running costs and future-proof it, including air source heat pumps, a PV array on the roof and seven electric vehicle charging points.

Showcasing careers in construction

Throughout the duration of the project, we will be giving back to the local community in a number of ways. One of the key ways we'll achieve this is by giving career-related opportunities to young people in the area.

We will be offering work experience opportunities, CV and employability workshops and running our award-winning Enrichment Programme at a local secondary school. The programme, which spans over six weeks, which will teach students about the careers available in construction, the importance of sustainable construction and students will earn a Bronze Industrial Cadets certificate.

We will also be engaging with students who currently attend St Edburg's school to keep them up-to-date with how the new school site is progressing.

Michelle Cotterill, director at Willmott Dixon, said:

“Being back on site at St Edburg’s School and helping to expand their offering is really exciting. The school is the oldest in Bicester, but it continues to move with the times – modernising and expanding its facilities to offer the very best for pupils, so we’re really pleased to be back.

“We’re also looking forward to getting to know the local community again. Throughout the project, our team will be engaging with local educational institutions to provide CV advice, mock interviews, site tours and work experience opportunities. We are also looking to run our award-winning enrichment programme that teaches secondary school students about the construction industry, and the careers available, and provides them with a Bronze Industrial Cadets certificate.”

Andy Terrey, headteacher at St Edburg’s CE Primary School, said:

“With demand growing for places at the school, we knew we needed to expand our facilities. By constructing a purpose-built satellite school, we have the opportunity to create a brand-new building that is ideal for the needs of younger children – including areas such as dedicated external play areas, which are key for outside learning and development.

“We’re also able to meet the needs of local families head on – with a further 1,000 homes expected to be built locally. I’m therefore really looking forward to seeing the works get underway and to be working with Willmott Dixon again, following the team’s fantastic work on our current school.”