Firside Junior School breaks ground

As designers, we often talk about creating learning environments that are adaptable, sustainable and centred around the needs of pupils and staff. What makes Firside particularly significant is how these ambitions are being delivered through the Department for Education’s Modern Methods of Construction (MMC1) framework, demonstrating how innovative approaches to MMC school design and construction can help meet growing educational demand without compromising on quality.

At HLM Architects, we believe that every child deserves access to inspiring spaces that support learning, wellbeing and inclusion. The challenge facing the education sector is how we deliver these environments quickly, efficiently and sustainably through MMC school design while responding to increasing pressures on budgets, programmes and the condition of the existing school estate.

By combining advanced offsite manufacturing with thoughtful, user-centred design, MMC school design allows us to accelerate delivery while maintaining a high level of quality and consistency. Manufacturing and site works can progress simultaneously, reducing programme durations and minimising disruption for surrounding communities. Just as importantly, it enables greater certainty around cost, quality and performance.

However, the success of MMC is not simply about speed. Its real value lies in creating better outcomes for the people who will use the building every day. 

Firside school has been designed around flexibility, inclusivity and wellbeing. The school will provide modern, flexible teaching spaces alongside supporting facilities designed to enhance the learning experience and support a dynamic, inclusive environment for pupils and staff.  

Sustainability and building performance are central to the scheme, with the design developed in line with the Department for Education’s requirements for thermal comfort, air quality and daylight. A combination of passive and active measures – including solar shading, high-performance glazing and enhanced ventilation strategies will help regulate internal temperatures and maintain a comfortable environment throughout the year. The school is also targeting net zero carbon in operation, with energy modelling indicating low overall energy demand and the integration of roof-mounted solar panels to support on-site renewable generation, reinforcing the benefits of MMC school design.

The importance of this investment is reflected by the school community itself. Daniel Thrower, CEO of The Wensum Trust, described the project as “a proud moment for the Trust and a major step forward for the local families we serve”, highlighting how the new facility will provide a state-of-the-art, net zero environment that matches the quality of education delivered within its classrooms. 

That enthusiasm is shared by the school. Rosalind Robinson, Executive Headteacher at Firside Junior School, spoke of the excitement surrounding the project and the difference the new building will make to pupils and staff, recognising the value of creating a modern, sustainable learning environment designed to support future generations of learners. 

As the education sector continues to evolve, the conversation around school design is increasingly shifting from simply delivering buildings to creating long-term social, environmental and educational value. Achieving this requires close collaboration between clients, designers, contractors and end users from the earliest stages of a project. 

Firside Junior School is a great example of what can be achieved when that collaborative approach is combined with innovation and a shared commitment to quality. While breaking ground marks the start of construction, it also represents something much bigger: a continued step towards a more sustainable, efficient and future-focused approach to delivering educational environments through MMC school design.

We look forward to seeing the school take shape over the coming months and, more importantly, to the positive impact it will have on pupils, staff and the wider community for many years to come.