Pre-school & primary

Creating inspiring learning environments that support future generations.

Schools play a vital role at the centre of their communities. As pupil numbers grow, learning needs evolve and sustainability ambitions increase, education providers require facilities that are flexible, resilient and designed to support both learning and wellbeing.

Whether delivering new primary schools, expanding existing estates, refurbishing ageing facilities or creating specialist provision, our teams work collaboratively with customers to create environments that inspire learning, support communities and provide long-term value. This includes supporting schools and local authorities to meet evolving sustainability requirements through low-carbon design, modern construction methods and alignment with the Department for Education's sustainability and climate change strategy.

From traditional construction to modern methods of construction, we deliver high-quality education facilities that minimise disruption, maximise value and create positive outcomes for pupils, staff and local communities.

Delivering schools that keep pace with growing communities

Across the UK, local authorities, academy trusts and education providers are under increasing pressure to create additional school places while maintaining high-quality learning environments.

Our teams have extensive experience delivering new primary schools, nursery provision and school expansions that respond to growing demand. Working closely with stakeholders from the earliest stages, we help create facilities that meet both immediate capacity requirements and future educational needs.

Delivered as part of the Romans' Quarter development in Bingham, Nottinghamshire, Bingham Primary School was designed to support a rapidly growing community while providing flexibility for future expansion.

The one-storey, 1,405m² school accommodates up to 210 primary pupils and 26 nursery children, creating a modern learning environment for local families. Recognising the long-term growth planned for the area, with more than 1,000 new homes proposed, the school was specifically designed to enable future expansion, increasing capacity to 315 pupils if required.

By planning for growth from the outset, the project provides a flexible educational asset capable of adapting to the needs of a growing community.

Client: Nottinghamshire County Council

Framework: SCAPE

Learn more: https://www.morgansindallconstruction.com/our-projects/case-studies/bingham-primary-school/

Modern methods of construction for faster delivery

The need for additional school places often comes with challenging timescales, making efficient delivery a priority for education providers.

By adopting modern methods of construction and offsite manufacturing, our teams can reduce programme durations, improve quality and minimise disruption on school sites. These approaches provide greater certainty around cost, programme and delivery, helping schools become operational sooner.

In October 2020, Ravensdale Infant & Nursery School in Derby suffered a devastating fire that destroyed much of the building and left almost 300 pupils without a school.

Working in close collaboration with Derby City Council, the team delivered one of the fastest procurement and construction programmes possible, enabling pupils to return to a permanent learning environment at the earliest opportunity.

Modern methods of construction played a key role in accelerating delivery, reducing programme timescales while maintaining the highest standards of quality and safety. The school is made up of 58 pre-fabricated modules which were built offsite before being delivered and installed in less than two weeks. This helped ensure the construction of the school completed both on time and on budget in just 45 weeks.

Client: Derby City Council

Framework: SCAPE Regional Construction Framework

Full case study: https://www.morgansindallconstruction.com/our-projects/case-studies/ravensdale-infant-and-nursery-school/

Creating sustainable schools that support pupil wellbeing

Sustainability is an increasingly important consideration for education providers looking to reduce operational costs, improve environmental performance and support net zero ambitions.

Our teams work with customers to embed sustainability throughout the design and construction process, considering everything from low-carbon materials and energy-efficient building systems to biodiversity enhancements and renewable technologies.

By placing whole-life performance at the centre of project delivery, we help create schools that benefit both pupils today and future generations.

Buntingford First School became the first school in England that is net zero carbon in both construction and operation to achieve Passivhaus certification.

Sustainability was embedded throughout the project, with a cross-laminated timber frame utilised to save 1,160 tonnes of carbon, alongside photovoltaic panels and air source heat pumps that enable fossil fuel-free operation.

Alongside exceptional environmental performance, the school was designed to promote pupil wellbeing through natural daylight, fresh air ventilation and comfortable learning spaces, demonstrating how sustainable schools can enhance educational outcomes while improving long-term operational efficiency.

Client: Hertfordshire County Council

Framework: Pagabo

Delivering safely within live learning environments

Many education projects require construction activity to take place alongside day-to-day teaching and learning.

Our teams have extensive experience working on live school sites, carefully planning works around operational requirements to ensure disruption is minimised and safety remains the highest priority. Through detailed phasing strategies, stakeholder engagement and robust site management procedures, we enable schools to continue operating effectively throughout construction.

At Little Reddings Primary School, a new state-of-the-art school was delivered across two phases. The new building was constructed on adjacent land while the existing school remained fully operational, before the original buildings were demolished to make way for new sports and landscaping facilities.

Through careful phasing, robust site management and ongoing stakeholder engagement, the team minimised disruption to pupils, staff and parents while maintaining a safe learning environment throughout the programme. The approach enabled the successful delivery of a modern, net zero carbon in operation school.

Client: Bushey St James Trust

Framework: DfE

Making existing school estates work harder

Many education providers are looking to maximise value from their existing estates through refurbishment, expansion and decarbonisation programmes.

Our teams help modernise learning environments, improve energy performance and increase capacity while minimising disruption to pupils and staff. Through careful planning and phased delivery, we help customers unlock the potential of existing assets and extend the life of their estates.

At Burlington Junior School, capacity was increased by 120 pupil places through the refurbishment of the existing Victorian school and the construction of a new three-storey teaching block.

Delivered within a live environment through a carefully phased programme, the project helped respond to rising demand for school places across the borough while allowing education to continue uninterrupted. By retaining and enhancing existing buildings where possible, the scheme reduced the need for a full rebuild, demonstrating how existing school estates can be adapted to meet changing educational needs in a more sustainable and cost-effective way.

Client: Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames

Framework: Southern Construction Framework