SPACE Architects End of Year Report

This year’s education portfolio has been both broad in reach and rich in detail, shaped by the voices of the people who will learn and teach within these spaces. Careful thinking in early design has flowed into the first footsteps through new corridors, with each scheme adding to a body of work defined by care and consideration.

As another academic year comes to a close, we’re looking back on a period of shared achievement, from new school buildings settling into daily life to planning approvals that set the stage for what's to come. These projects are the result of collective ambition and a shared belief that the best learning environments begin by understanding the people who use them.

A Year in Use at Woodham Academy

Twelve months on, Woodham Academy is no longer a new build, but rather a climate-conscious school that has become an integral part of the daily lives of its students, staff, and local community. Designed with long-term performance and public value in mind, the building has supported a full academic cycle and is already proving its worth both inside and outside the classroom.

Set between woodland edges and neighbourhood streets in Newton Aycliffe, the building supports 1,200 pupils and stands as one of the region’s first schools developed in line with the Department for Education’s Output Specification for Net Zero Carbon in Operation. The completed school centres around a three-storey atrium that draws daylight into the heart of the building. Classrooms are arranged for passive supervision and linked by generous, naturally lit circulation routes. Materials were chosen to balance robustness with familiarity, using brick and metal externally and prioritising acoustic comfort inside.

As a school that continues to give back after hours, with its swimming pool, auditorium, and sports facilities open to the public, its blend of academic and civic life hasn’t gone unnoticed. “There’s a lot of talk in Newton Aycliffe about the new school,”says Deputy Headteacher Danny Morgans. “The aesthetics of the building, and the brickwork particularly, make it somewhere that people want to come and look at.”

“It’s fantastic for the students of Newton Aycliffe to have such a state-of-the-art facility. But it also extends beyond the students; it can be used by the community. It’s a real privilege to be working in a building like this.”

Callerton Academy Poised for a New Academic Chapter

While Woodham Academy has now completed its first full year in use, Callerton Academy is preparing for its own milestone. Set to welcome its first cohort of students this September, Callerton’s new school marks a significant investment in the local area by the Department for Education and the Gosforth Group Trust. Designed to meet Net Zero Carbon in Operation standards, the new secondary school features an expansive green roof and climate-resilient landscaping.

The spirit of collaboration has remained evident throughout this project, even in baked form. During construction last December, SPACE Architects joined forces with Morgan Sindall and Year 10 pupils from Callerton Academy to take part in Oasis Housing’s Gingerbread Street. Together, we created the “Gingerbread Academy,” a creative, edible version of the new school, baked and built with aprons on and timers set. The project earned a Community Champion award and provided our architects with a unique opportunity to connect with pupils.

From gingerbread models to real-world delivery, Callerton Academy has been defined by strong partnerships and a clear sense of purpose. The result is a future-focused learning environment due to open its doors in the coming weeks.

Progress On Site for Woodlands Academy

At Woodlands Academy in Scarborough, work continues on a new two-storey building that unites the primary and secondary wings around a central core, creating clear zoning while allowing shared facilities, such as the hall, dining areas, and library, to support both school life and potential community use. With quiet sensory rooms to open-plan teaching spaces, every aspect of the layout has been developed with the school’s SEND provision in mind. Outside, a reconfigured drop-off system and expanded parking are designed to ease congestion on surrounding roads, while the landscape strategy aims to improve biodiversity across the site.

Appleby Grammar Set for Autumn Start on Site

At Appleby Grammar in Cumbria, old and new are being carefully brought together to form a more cohesive and efficient campus. The scheme, which received planning approval and listed building consent in February, is due to begin on site this autumn once contracts are signed. Plans include a new three-storey teaching block, alongside the sensitive refurbishment of heritage buildings dating back to 1887 and 1927, which will be reconnected by a new central walkway. The upgraded estate will feature modern classrooms, labs, studios, and dining spaces, with performance and safeguarding integral to the design. The school’s historic sports hall will remain a key part of community life, with upgrades ensuring that shared use, access, and security continue to work in balance as the school grows.

Planning Approved for Durham Academy and Benton Park Primary

In April, plans were approved for a new two-storey building at Benton Park Primary, a school serving pupils aged 3 to 11. The scheme includes a dedicated Deaf Resource Base, one of only three specialist provisions of its kind in the region, with a design that allows for continuous learning throughout the construction process. The new building, made up of a teaching wing and a separate but connected main hall, will be delivered on the existing site while the current school remains operational, minimising disruption for staff and pupils.

As of July, Durham Academy, an 11-16 aged mixed secondary school, was also granted full planning permission. Located in Ushaw Moor, just outside Durham city centre, the new build will accommodate 500 pupils and cater to a broad curriculum, serving a range of learners. With 123 students currently on the SEND register, the design supports both mainstream and specialist education, with particular emphasis on inclusive access. The school specialises in subjects including Hair and Beauty, Animal Care, Photography, Food Technology, and Sport, all of which will benefit from improved facilities. The project includes a new school building, upgrades to creative hubs and sports areas, and enhancements to the surrounding landscape and access strategy. With the contract recently agreed upon, Willmott Dixon has wasted no time, committing to a programme that will see the new school open by autumn 2026.

Design Tools That Make a Difference

In parallel with our project delivery, this year also saw the development of our first Schools Configurator, a visual tool created by our in-house visualiser, Andy Forbes. Designed to help explore early spatial and organisational concepts, the tool has now been shortlisted at the 2025 Building Innovation Awards in the Best Use of Visualisation category.

It’s one of two shortlists this year that recognises our work in the sector. SPACE Architects has also been named as a finalist for Architectural Practice of the Year at the 2025 Education Estates Awards.

Designing Schools with People and Purpose

Over the past year, we’ve worked closely with trusts, contractors, local authorities, and school representatives to bring ambitious ideas to life. We've strengthened our ability to ensure that everyone involved can see the vision clearly and feel a genuine sense of ownership. With advanced early-stage visualisations and a new configurator supporting every decision, whether it’s refining the smallest classroom detail or setting the dimensions of a sports hall court, we continue to innovate, making the design process as transparent and collaborative as possible.

Our education projects demonstrate first-hand what happens when everyone has a seat at the table. When each voice, whether it belongs to a headteacher, a SEND specialist, or a local planner, is heard and taken on board, the results are stronger. Spaces become more intuitive. Layouts work harder and buildings respond more naturally to the needs of the people inside them.

As we close the books on one academic year and look ahead to the next, these projects reflect our ongoing efforts to support inclusive and effective education for all. From digital visualisation tools to decarbonisation strategies, our education teams remain focused on work that matters: creating schools that prioritise people and the planet.