Sustainable New School Build Delivering Real Impact

A year after opening, Deyes High School is proving why it has become a benchmark for modern education design. Delivered by Kier for the Department for Education (DfE) and Lydiate Learning Trust, the 10,000 sqm school has quickly established itself as a high-performing, future-ready environment, improving outcomes, behaviour, and community connections.

In its first year, the school used just 67% of the DfE’s energy target, making it highly efficient. Solar panels generated over 478,000 kWh of clean electricity — enough to power more than 66,000 LED lightbulbs continuously for a month.

Features like hybrid ventilation, a Bio Solar roof, heat pumps, and improved insulation ensure classrooms are consistently comfortable, energy-efficient, and cost-effective.

Students have also gained hands-on experience learning about construction careers and sustainable building practices, connecting classroom lessons to real-world applications.

The educational impact is clear. Attendance and attitudes to learning have improved, and low-level disruption has reduced. Classrooms feel calmer and more focused, supported by stable temperatures and strong acoustic control.

Head of School Mrs. Beaney said: “Over the past year, we’ve seen a real difference across the school – students are more engaged, focused, and enjoying their learning, while staff report fewer behavioural issues and more collaborative support between pupils. Our new building has quietly transformed the day-to-day environment. Deyes is built on family values, and our partnership with Kier has helped shape not just the school’s spaces, but the culture that makes this community thrive.”

Parent and carer engagement has increased, and the building’s efficient layout is delivering tangible gains – students now gain up to seven extra minutes of learning time per lesson.

The school’s wider role has grown too. Over the past year, community groups have increasingly used the facilities for classes, meetings, and events. Staff morale is strong, and students report improved wellbeing, reinforcing the link between thoughtful design and a positive school culture.

Kier Senior Project Manager Andy Brayne added: “Delivering Deyes High School was about creating an environment that drives educational excellence and sustainability. This project sets a benchmark for future schools, combining energy efficiency with spaces that inspire learning and community engagement.”