How a London local authority cut heat loss and engaged pupils through our Planned Works Framework
A primary school in London needed to replace its ageing windows without closing its doors. The school is a listed building, and its original sash windows had degraded to the point where they were causing significant heat loss and higher running costs. The local authority responsible needed to carry out the work in a school that is in use almost every day of the year, while protecting its historic character.
The problem
Ageing windows, heat loss and a school that rarely closes
The school’s original sash windows had reached the end of their life. As well as looking tired, they were causing severely degraded thermal performance in both summer and winter, driving up running costs and leaving classrooms uncomfortable for pupils and staff.
Delivering a large window and door replacement programme in a live primary school is not a simple job. The school uses its limited outdoor space for staggered breaks and lunchtimes, and runs clubs through the holidays, so the building is occupied almost all year round. Its listed status added a further requirement, with any work needing to protect the building’s historic character while improving comfort and energy performance.
The council needed a compliant route to an experienced supplier that could deliver a large fabric programme safely, around a working school, without losing time or control of the budget.
The solution
A compliant route to an experienced supplier, with social value built in
The local authority used our Planned Works Framework, Lot 17: Whole House Works, to appoint an experienced contractor through a compliant procurement route, with support from our team. The framework gave the council direct access to a specialist supplier and helped keep the programme moving within a tight delivery window.
As part of a large window and door replacement programme, the contractor fitted new double-glazed sash units, chosen to improve thermal performance and reduce running costs. The programme also included façade repairs and repairs to drainage and rainwater goods.
To keep pupils safe, the works were timed to start in the school holidays and then continued carefully through term time. The team held regular meetings with school leaders to plan around lessons and activities, closing specific zones as needed.
Social value was built into how the contractor worked, not added on afterwards. The team ran a construction safety assembly, with a spot-the-hazard competition and a site safety clothing demonstration, so children understood the risks of a live building site. Pupils designed their own safety posters, and the winning designs were turned into signage displayed on the site hoarding. The contractor also delivered careers-focused learning with pupils, ran environmental projects that involved them directly, and made practical improvements that supported wider school facilities.
The results
Better buildings, safer pupils and clear value for money
The programme delivered a large window and door replacement, alongside façade and rainwater repairs, improving the condition, comfort and energy performance of the school and helping its low-carbon heating work harder.
It also delivered clear value for money. When the team found failing brickwork during the works, they carried out the additional repairs using scaffolding that was already in place. That avoided a separate mobilisation, protected the original programme and saved the council money. The project finished on time and within budget.
The most visible outcome was the impact on pupils. What could have been a disruptive year became something the school community was part of, from safety posters on the hoarding to careers learning in the classroom.
Together, the local authority and the contractor, working through our Planned Works Framework, delivered more than a set of new windows. The right framework and the right supplier improved the school building and left a lasting benefit for the pupils, staff and community who use it every day.