The new Primary and Secondary schools being built in Lyde Green will be among the largest so far in England designed to Passivhaus standards.
Representatives of South Gloucestershire Council and the school and Trust leaders who will run the new facilities, visited the site to see the innovative way the buildings are being constructed and to receive an update from the constructors that the scheme is on track for pupils to join the schools at the start of the 2026/27 academic year.
The site has been a hive of activity since construction began in March 2024. A key design feature of the new buildings is their CLT (Cross Laminated Timber) frame which comprises all the structural wall and floor elements. By using this approach instead of more traditional steel frameworks, the buildings have better environmental performance with the further advantage of a more rapid installation programme.
The CLT frame is currently visible on the main secondary school building, whist the primary school building is in the process of being clad with an insulating layer.
It is just one of a number of design features that will make the new schools highly energy efficient, optimised to be net zero, making them significantly cheaper to run.
The 420-place, primary school will be run by the Castle School Education Trust (CSET) and the 900-place, 11-16 secondary school will be run by the Olympus Academy Trust, both of which already run a number of local schools.
The total project funding is more than £58.3 million, which is made up of almost £24 million from South Gloucestershire Council, and more than £34.3 million from the Department of Education under the Free Schools Programme.
Construction is being undertaken by BAM, who have previously built two other energy efficient new school buildings in South Gloucestershire, at Frenchay and Elm Park.
South Gloucestershire Council Co-leader and Cabinet Member with responsibility for schools, Cllr Ian Boulton, said: “When we formed the new administration less than two years ago I was shocked with how little progress had been made in delivering these schools. I am grateful to all of our staff and stakeholders who rose to the challenge we set, and it is down to them that we now see these new schools taking shape. The community can see the progress being made and I’m delighted to hear that they are on target to open for new students from September 2026.
“The new schools will help complete the Lyde Green Community, meaning more children can go to school where they will be growing up and reducing the need to travel longer distances.
“It’s also great to see and hear about the way these schools are being built. It shows that by designing and building in the right way, we can deliver infrastructure and facilities that will help protect our environment for the children and young people who will learn in these new schools for years to come.”
Tom Hutchings, Lyde Green Primary School Head Teacher Designate of CSET, said: “We are excited to see the progress being made to our new school buildings. We look forward to seeing them complete and for our pupils of the future to enjoy a state-of-the-art leaning environment for years to come.”
Tom Hill, Headteacher Designate for Lyde Green Secondary School, said: “It is really good to see and hear that the new buildings are on track to be delivered to us for the start of the 2026/27 academic year. High quality buildings like these will allow our staff to give the next generation of learners the best possible learning environment in which to thrive.”
Dermot Parkinson Construction Manager at BAM, said: “Delivering this school for the children of Lyde Green reflects our commitment to going beyond the build and creating long-lasting value for the community. The use of sustainable construction methods reduces the building’s environmental impact and cuts energy costs, allowing more resources to be reinvested into education. This will be a high-quality learning environment designed to support students for years to come.”
