A new Gosford Hill School for the next generation…

In October 2023 we were privileged to be able to share the great news that Gosford Hill School is on phase three of the Department for Education Schools Rebuilding Programme. Our brand new purpose built school building will be constructed on our existing site and will be phased over three years to enable the school to be operational throughout the build. We are the first school in Oxfordshire to be on the programme.

This is a huge moment for the school and the fantastic community that we are privileged to serve. It’s no exaggeration to say that this is a transformative moment for Kidlington and for the many future generations of young people that will go through our school. Every community deserves a great school at its heart, and this rebuilding project means that Gosford Hill School can continue to be a great school at the heart of Kidlington for years to come.

Bowmer + Kirkland have been selected by the Department for Education as the main contractor who will bring the ambitious plans for the school to reality. 

The existing school was opened on 7th September 1932, and despite being extended and developed over the years, the current layout and building stock are inefficient and energy intensive and don’t suit the needs of education and learning in the 21st Century.

The design of the new school is very much bespoke to our needs in terms of being able to deliver our ambitious curriculum. The external landscaping will support our wider curriculum such as Duke of Edinburgh, geography field work and sport. As we are very much at the heart of the community and provide a focal point for many community groups, our facilities have also been designed with the community in mind as this will be a building that serves the community beyond the school day.

Part of the brief centres around sustainability, and the new school will be more energy efficient, achieving net carbon zero in operation. The solar panels on the roof of the building will provide the power to the school, whilst the ground source heat pumps will heat the school. The materials and building technology will create a low acoustic environment and take advantage of natural light. We are also involving our young people in opportunities to work with the project team, as a way of inspiring our students into many careers associated with the design and construction industry.

If you’d like to find out more information about this exciting project, there is a project website (www.gosfordhillplans.co.uk) where you can register for updates and review the plans in more detail.