Woodham Academy

A first for the North East, Woodham Academy's new, state-of-the-art Net Zero school has opened its doors to its 1,200-student body in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. Nestled amidst public woodlands, the Academy serves as both a vibrant educational space and a central gathering place for the local community. The design seamlessly blends innovative architecture with sustainable design features and landscaping, cultivating an environment that inspires learning while fostering strong connections with the surrounding area. This contemporary secondary school exemplifies our commitment to producing educational spaces that prioritise sustainability, inclusivity, and student-centred design, offering a responsive and nurturing environment for students, educators, and community members alike.

Design Team

Paul Broadfoot

Rob Gibson

Every aspect of Woodham Academy's creation—from site planning to material selection—reflects our drive to merge environmental sensitivity with community-focused values. This vision has guided a phased construction approach, allowing the new facility to be built independently of the existing school buildings, thereby ensuring continuity in the student's learning experience throughout development.

The development of Woodham Academy adheres to the Department for Education's 2021 Output Specification, establishing it as one of the first net zero carbon in operation (NZCiO) schools in the region.

Central to achieving this is a fabric-first design approach, which provides optimal insulation, high-performance glazing, and superior thermal regulation. Through a rigorous material selection process, the building envelope achieves remarkable energy efficiency, helping minimise the facility's energy demands. This commitment to a lower carbon footprint has been reinforced through the strategic integration of passive design elements, creating a naturally regulated environment that supports both low operational costs and a low-carbon future.

Woodham Academy's extensive biodiverse roof exemplifies the seamless integration of environmental innovation. With photovoltaic (PV) cells embedded within the green roof, the bio-solar installation creates a habitat for local wildlife while contributing directly to the school's energy needs. The roof's blend of energy generation and biodiversity enhancement supports a reduction in carbon emissions while also strengthening surrounding ecosystems by providing a habitat for birds, insects, and plant life. In doing so, Woodham Academy exceeds environmental standards, establishing a foundation for sustainable design that enriches the surrounding landscape.

Achieving the NZCiO designation required the careful incorporation of advanced energy-efficient systems, most notably the use of Air Source Heat Pumps located on the roof. This system, crucial for both heating and passive cooling, eliminates the need for carbon-intensive mechanical ventilation and contributes to an overall reduction in energy consumption. By utilising the site's natural resources for temperature regulation, the design minimises reliance on active systems, further aligning with the school's sustainable mission. The building is oriented to maximise natural cross-flow ventilation, capturing and channelling air currents from the north-south wind patterns prevalent in the area. This enables a steady intake of fresh air across learning spaces without mechanical support, improving indoor air quality while curbing energy use.

The building's orientation and spatial layout facilitate an abundance of natural light, a vital element in the design process validated by climate-based daylight modelling. Classrooms, dining spaces, and sports facilities are positioned to capture optimal daylight, reducing dependence on artificial lighting and creating a welcoming environment conducive to student engagement. By using daylight modelling as a guiding tool, the design team have created light-filled, dynamic spaces that enhance the indoor experience, contributing to students' well-being and promoting a positive learning atmosphere for all. Internally each Teaching Space and offices have full height 600mm glazed screens to maximise borrowed light into the corridors ensuring that not only the Teaching spaces are well lit and inviting but circulation routes also support the bright learning environment. Glazed screens to the offices also maximise passive supervision within critical spaces in the design.

Advanced energy monitoring and reporting systems play an essential role in Woodham Academy's operation, making it a model for future-proofed educational facilities. A centralised building management system (BMS) connects all energy-consuming systems, including lighting, heating, and ventilation, adapting to real-time occupancy and environmental conditions. This smart approach allows energy consumption to be optimised continuously, with administrators able to access detailed data to refine operations further. The integration of smart metering enables ongoing energy analysis and adjustments, empowering the school to maintain compliance with NZCiO standards even as these standards evolve.

Photovoltaic panels positioned on the biodiverse roof provide substantial clean energy, with the potential to generate a surplus that can be reinvested into the local energy grid. Electric vehicle charging stations were also incorporated into the site's infrastructure, anticipating the continued rise of EV usage and encouraging green commuting among staff and visitors.

Designed as a community-centric institution, with over 55 teaching spaces, a large auditorium, extensive sports facilities, and versatile communal areas, Woodham Academy can support various community functions, from recreational activities to large events. The modern swimming pool enriches the facilities, providing a key resource for both students and local residents. Located close to local green corridors and woodland, these sports and recreation spaces sustain the site's larger ecological goals while further contributing to the social fabric of the community.

The design process for Woodham Academy also considered the need for secure and accessible spaces. Security elements, including CCTV, controlled access points, and advanced fire safety systems, have been successfully integrated throughout the site. The green corridor dividing the school building from the sports area required special consideration to balance accessibility with security, using landscape elements and subtle fencing to create a secure perimeter without isolating the school from its surrounding neighbourhood.

Inclusivity and accessibility guided every phase of Woodham Academy's design, with wide corridors, level access points, strategically placed accessible parking, and ample bicycle storage to support sustainable commuting—ensuring the school accommodates all abilities and promotes both inclusive experiences and environmentally friendly transportation for all.

The architectural style of Woodham Academy honours its residential surroundings while establishing a distinct identity as a sustainable educational facility. Durable brickwork, combined with glass and metal detailing, gives the façade a modern yet approachable appearance that echoes the area's architectural vernacular. The materials were selected with a focus on sustainability and durability, ensuring that each component of the building supports low embodied carbon, longevity, and recyclability. Internally, the design emphasises flexibility, with multipurpose rooms and adaptable spaces that can evolve alongside educational requirements.

Designed with climate resilience in mind, Woodham Academy's structure is engineered to withstand a 2°C rise in global temperatures, with considerations for up to a 4°C increase. The building's high-performance thermal envelope, combined with resilient materials, positions it as a model for adaptability, ensuring it will remain comfortable and operational in an era of shifting climate conditions. The green and biodiverse roofing not only contributes to immediate environmental goals but also serves as an educational asset, offering students a unique learning opportunity to observe biodiversity, renewable energy, and sustainability principles in action.

In realising Woodham Academy, SPACE Architects has gone beyond creating a school building to establish a sustainable and community-focused legacy. Through our commitment to integrated design, innovative energy solutions, and environmental stewardship, Woodham Academy is poised to serve as a model for future educational projects, embodying the principles of architecture that support both the community and the planet. This project sets a new benchmark in educational design, proving that a commitment to sustainability, community, and resilience can transform the educational landscape and create spaces that inspire generations.

Commenting on the project, Rob Gibson explains, "Woodham Academy demonstrates the power of thoughtful, sustainable design. This project highlights how architecture can meet the demands of today's educational needs whilst also setting a standard for the future—one that balances environmental responsibility with community engagement. We are incredibly proud to have contributed to the creation of this space that supports the well-being and development of its students as well as strengthening the connection between the Academy and its surrounding community, all while reducing our collective carbon footprint."

Commending the delivery of the project, SPACE Architect Director Paul Broadfoot adds, "Woodham Academy's NZCiO facility is an excellent achievement for the region, setting a new standard for sustainable educational buildings. From the first concept sketch in August 2022 to the final handover, the design remained true to its ambitious vision, delivering an exceptional learning environment that combines innovative architecture with environmental responsibility. This accomplishment was made possible through the dedication of the entire project team—including Galliford Try, AtkinsRéalis, the Department for Education, Billinghurst George & Partners, OOBE, and Desco—all of whom played an integral role in realising this vision."

"Delivered under the Department for Education's S21 framework, Woodham Academy incorporates standout features such as its biodiverse green roof, a Net Zero Carbon in Operation pool, and a signature timber entrance, each contributing to the project's sustainable and community-focused ethos. This facility sets a powerful example for future educational projects in the UK and beyond."

**Project credits are as follows:
Design - SPACE Architects
Client - DFE
Contractor - Galliford Try
Project Manager - Atkin Realis
Structure Civils - BGP
Landscape - Oobe
Acoustics - Apex
Mechanical & Electrical - Desco
Photography courtesy of ©Andrew Heptinstall Photography