Kier breaks ground on new facilities at historic Gloucestershire school

Work is now underway on new facilities at Gloucestershire’s Katharine Lady Berkeley’s School, one of the oldest state schools in the country.

Kier Construction Western & Wales has been contracted to replace a number of older buildings at the campus-style site with a single three-storey teaching block and separate activity studio.

In line with the school’s sustainability goals, the new block is planned to feature rooftop PV panels, enhanced insulation, and both ground-source and air-source heat pumps.

The project also involves the refurbishment and extension of an existing single-storey block to better provide for the sixth form and special educational needs department. This will come alongside remodelled parking facilities, relocation of the existing Multi-Use Games Area, and a new central courtyard with seating and performance stage.

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Katharine Lady Berkeley’s School procured the project through the Department for Education (DfE) CF17 Framework, with work expected to finish in Spring 2025.

Acting Headteacher Hannah Khan said: “We are pleased to have been included in the first phase of the DfE School Rebuilding Programme.

“Over the past two years, the teams from DfE, Kier, and Mace have worked closely with the school to ensure that the final design stays true to the school’s current campus feel, takes account of our stunning geographical location and the school’s vision for the future.

“We are excited to explore the new opportunities that this project will bring to our students and the school community and look forward to working with Kier over the coming years.”

Kier will make use of its new design platform kSchool, which creates unique designs for schools and considers how best to make use of the site.

Andy Bolas, Regional Director at Kier Construction Western & Wales, added: “This school was founded over 639 years ago and the buildings we’re upgrading were built post-war, so for us providing twenty-first century accommodation is a real honour and something that we, as a Gloucestershire-based business, are incredibly proud of.

“Not only does this project further evidence our expertise in delivering state-of-the-art sustainable schools but also demonstrates our innovative kSchool platform.”

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