Meopham Secondary School Expansion

Bond Bryan were appointed to design and deliver a new teaching block at Meopham Secondary School, Kent, after completing a feasibility study to assess the school’s growth potential. This £7.5 million project not only expanded the school’s facilities but also supported the school’s ambition to increase its student intake while responding to the changing needs of the community.

The new teaching block addresses Meopham Secondary School’s ambitious growth targets by adding significant teaching capacity, increasing secondary provision by 60 places and Sixth Form provision by 44 places. The building features key spaces including staff offices, specialist classrooms for music, art, drama, design technology, and general classrooms to accommodate the school’s expanding curriculum.

We undertook the remodelling of the existing school to enhance operational efficiency, including expanding the kitchen, dining area, and creating a new science classroom.The design not only provides the school with the necessary facilities to meet its future needs but also delivers a solution that enhances the overall educational experience for both students and staff.

Our technical expertise in sustainable design was crucial in ensuring the school met its environmental and practical needs. Given the specific requirements of the Department for Education’s Output Specifications, we adopted a hybrid approach using Structural Insulated Panels for the majority of the building while reinforcing the first floor and roof slabs with concrete to enhance thermal mass.

This approach helped mitigate overheating and reduced the need for additional mechanical cooling. We also prioritised sustainability in the overall design by considering energy efficiency and thermal comfort, ensuring that both the new and remodelling works were built to last and remain sustainable for years to come.