Tarporley High School – Sandstone Trust
Project Scope
The project, commissioned by The Sandstone Trust, comprised the design and construction of a new-build teaching block located within the existing school campus in Tarporley, Cheshire.
The new teaching block will provide additional high-quality teaching and learning spaces to accommodate the school’s growing student population. The development will support the school’s operational needs and ensure sufficient capacity for its 11–18 co-educational secondary provision.
The school currently operates from a single campus and supports approximately 1,210 students, exceeding its Published Admission Number (PAN) of 210 pupils per year group. The new facility will enable the school to effectively manage current and projected pupil numbers while enhancing the overall learning environment.
“It really supports the continued growth and success of our school. With the school now full, it was important to have more room for everyone to work, learn and collaborate.
“This new environment gives staff and students more space to thrive and enjoy outstanding teaching and learning. I’d like to thank Sandstone Trust for their continued support, and Krol Corlett and Brock Carmichael for their care and professionalism.”
Work Completed
The works comprised of the construction of a new 918m² extension, designed as a single-storey building with a partial two-storey element. The new accommodation will provide 12 classrooms, including two specialist rooms designed to support digital learning.
In addition to teaching spaces, the extension will incorporate WC facilities, accessible WCs, and associated storage areas, all designed to ensure spatial efficiency and compliance with current design standards.
The layout and configuration of the new block will support the effective delivery of the 11–18 curriculum and will be carefully integrated within the existing school site to strengthen functional adjacencies and synergies with the main school building.
“This project was a significant period in planning and design stages and encountered several major challenges during programme delivery but ultimately we delivered a fantastic building for secondary school learning.”
Overcoming Challenges
The project was delivered within a live and operational school environment, which presented significant logistical challenges throughout the construction programme. Works were carefully planned and sequenced to ensure the safety of pupils, staff, and visitors, while minimising disruption to the school’s daily operations.
During the critical below-ground drainage installation, particular attention was given to maintaining safe and continuous access routes to all areas of the school campus. This required phased working, temporary access arrangements, and close coordination with school management to align construction activities with the school timetable and events.
Effective site segregation, communication, and safety management were key to successfully delivering the works in this live environment while maintaining the operational integrity of the school.
Further Project Team:
