BAM Construction has started work on the development of a new £10 million, low carbon primary school in the village of Frenchay, near Bristol.

The redevelopment of Frenchay Church of England Primary School is part of South Gloucestershire Council's largest ever investment into schools. Following a competitive process, BAM has been appointed to deliver the scheme under the Southern Construction Framework (SCF).

The current school will be replaced with a two storey, two-form entry school located on the grounds of the former Frenchay Hospital. The expanded, relocated school will eventually accommodate up to 420 primary-age children, addressing the requirement for additional school places following the development of almost 500 new homes in the area.


The new school building has been designed to achieve low-carbon Passivhaus standards with plans that incorporate various eco efficient features including triple glazing, solar panels, highly insulated thermal fabric and heat recovery units. Classrooms will be situated on both floors of the new building, with additional learning areas for first floor classrooms looking out over neighbouring woodland. Groundworks have been completed and construction work is already underway with a planned opening for September 2022.

BAM created the UK's first Passivhaus primary school in Exeter, and the first assessment of embodied and operational carbon at a primary school, at King Ina School in Taunton, which was completed a few months ago.