St John Fisher Secondary School

St John Fisher Catholic School needed a new home for modern secondary and sixth form education.

The aim was a high-quality, energy-efficient school that could also serve the wider community.

Clear thinking, robust design delivery

Appointed by Wates under a design and build contract, we provided building services engineering through to RIBA Stage 5. We supported the bid and then developed detailed designs aligned with Department for Education requirements.

Close engagement with the school and the DfE shaped the process. We translated complex proposals into clear, accessible presentations so stakeholders could understand their choices and decide with confidence.

The project began at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with much of the team working remotely. Even so, collaboration stayed strong, supported by carefully planned site visits whenever possible.

We used IES modelling to test design options and ensure energy targets could be met in a practical, cost-effective way. This included assessing how air source heat pumps would perform as part of the wider strategy.

Working with a modular MEP manufacturer, we coordinated off-site prefabrication to simplify installation and reduce programme risk – showing that good engineering often starts long before anyone arrives on site.

A high-performing school for learning and community life

The £28 million new-build school now provides modern teaching spaces, sports facilities and cultural areas for students and the wider community.

Careful plant selection and a strong building fabric helped the project achieve an EPC A rating without relying heavily on photovoltaics. In practice, that means a building that quietly supports comfortable classrooms while keeping energy use low.

Lower energy, lasting value

The completed school offers students and staff a comfortable, efficient place to learn and work. Community access to sports and cultural facilities strengthens local ties, ensuring the building supports far more than the school day. A good school, after all, becomes part of the neighbourhood it serves.