‘Contractors need strong client direction to deliver sustainable schools’

Sustainability is a key priority for the Department for Education (DfE) – and for building contractors, that means the bar for new school construction projects is high.

Richard Taylor, regional head of construction delivery at the DfE, explains: “The department has recently launched new design standards, which set out new and updated requirements for all school buildings delivered by the department.

“These standards promote a holistic and integrated approach to sustainability, based on three environmental principles: healthy and productive spaces, reducing emissions and nature-based solutions.”

Taylor says the updated standards are built from the evidence gathered through the delivery of previous standards.

“A strong example of a project delivered recently is Little Reddings Primary School in Bushey,” he says. “It was built by Morgan Sindall under the DfE’s 2021 Construction Framework and used a timber panelised system. That approach reflects the principles set out in the Government’s Construction Playbook, particularly its emphasis on sustainable materials and modern methods of construction (MMC).

“We do not prescribe construction methodology but instead encourage sustainable approaches. It was Morgan Sindall who selected the timber panelised system rather than a traditional construction methodology. Their choice aligns strongly with the Playbook’s focus on MMC and low‑carbon solutions.

“The school also uses ground source heat pumps and high performing photovoltaic panels.”

Little Reddings Primary School opened in summer 2024 and has been operating for over a year.

“We now have a year’s worth of evidence that validates how well the building performs,” Taylor says. “That makes it a compelling case study because it demonstrates performance in use.”

Taylor explains that there are systems in place at Little Reddings to monitor the building performance.

“Through our Building Performance Evaluation process, we gather various information, including data on temperature, ventilation and energy,” he says. “Contractors are also required to undertake building performance evaluations at set intervals. At 12 months, we review this data to ensure that buildings are performing as expected.

“Morgan Sindall is very proud of this project,” he continues. “They go beyond our requirements in monitoring embodied carbon and have developed a tool called CarboniCa to track it across their projects. They have offered that tool to other contractors on our frameworks, which shows a genuine commitment to collaboration and improving standards across the industry.”

Besides operational performance, the DfE’s new design standards also sets tougher sustainability standards during the construction phase.

“We have always monitored embodied carbon and encouraged delivery partners to consider it when selecting construction methodologies,” says Taylor.

“Our new standards now set requirements for embodied carbon, alongside a clear methodology for how whole life carbon should be reported. These updates bring greater consistency and transparency to how embodied carbon is assessed across projects, and they strengthen the direction we were already moving in.”

Ultimately, Taylor says that sustainability must be client-led.

“The department has invested significant funding to ensure that our buildings meet these standards,” he explains. “That commitment has to be reflected in our specification, budgets and leadership. Contractors need that clarity and funding to deliver sustainable buildings. Without strong client direction, it would be much harder to achieve.”

Taylor adds that a key message from a client perspective is the importance of collaboration.

“The Construction Playbook makes clear that successful projects rely on strong, trust‑based relationships where all partners work towards shared outcomes,” he notes.

“When teams communicate openly, understand each other’s roles, and commit to common objectives, it creates the conditions for better decision‑making, smoother delivery, and improved whole‑life value.

“Collaboration is also essential to achieving our sustainability ambitions. By working as a team, we can embed environmental considerations into every stage of a project and ensure the buildings we deliver support long‑term sustainable outcomes.”

Taylor recently became one of CIOB’s Client Champions and sees clear benefits in the institute’s client strategy.

“Client-facing professionals like myself are probably underrepresented in industry forums and trade bodies,” he says. “The DfE has in-house professionals who fulfil an intelligent client function. So the CIOB client champions group can bring all these client professionals together and share good practice to raise quality and standards across the industry.

“I am currently applying for fellowship with the CIOB, and there is a strong internal drive at the department to increase professional accreditation.”