Paddock School

The brief was to deliver a new school for around 200 pupils aged 11–19 (supported by some 165 staff), for children with moderate to severe learning disabilities. One existing Victorian building was to be retained and reconfigured with a fabric-first approach, while a new building would be constructed adjacent to it, linked together. The site needed to be transformed into a nurturing, therapeutic landscape to support students’ emotional, physical and educational development, as well as facilities to attract and retain staff.

G&T provided Cost Management, Project Management and Principal Designer & CDM Consultancy services to deliver this highly specialised educational facility. Working closely with stakeholders, design teams and contractors, we oversaw the phased development of a new building comprising 24 classrooms (each with access to a private outdoor courtyard), alongside therapy rooms, sensory spaces, medical welfare facilities, and a new dining and sports hall. Externally, we managed the delivery of a landscape masterplan designed to promote wellbeing and sensory engagement, including a forest school, outdoor gym, wildflower meadows and outdoor performance space. Rainwater harvesting systems were integrated to support sustainable irrigation for planting and food production. 

The completed school sets a new standard for inclusive education by providing a tailored, therapeutic environment that meets the needs of both pupils and staff. G&T’s project management ensured that the complex brief - balancing specialist educational requirements, landscaping, sustainability and community integration - was delivered on time and within budget. The result is a fully inclusive, sustainable campus that supports learning, development and wellbeing, while creating opportunities for vocational growth through its public-facing café and kitchen garden. The school has achieved BREEAM “Outstanding” with a sustainability strategy prioritising biodiversity net gain, green roofs and renewable energy generation with solar panels.