Burntwood High School
London Borough of Wandsworth
RIBA Stirling Prize Winner, 2015
Project Management • Technical Advisor • Contract Administration
Client
London Borough of Wandsworth
Procurement
Two-stage Design & Build
Value
£41m
GIA
12,500 m² new build; 4,000 m² refurbishment
Project Overview
Burntwood High School in South London required a complete redevelopment to replace its outdated 1960s buildings with a modern secondary school for 1,400 students. Delivered while the school remained fully operational, the project created a series of sculptural teaching blocks arranged around generous landscaped courtyards, establishing a contemporary academic environment of exceptional architectural quality.
The redevelopment formed part of Wandsworth Council’s Building Schools for the Future programme and is now widely recognised as one of the most successful educational schemes in the UK.
Phased Delivery & Live-Site Management
The school could not reduce pupil numbers or rely on temporary accommodation, requiring a precisely sequenced phasing strategy. New buildings were constructed first, allowing students to decant safely before demolition began.
We developed complex safeguarding strategies, full segregation of contractors, shifting compounds across the site, and ensured all site operatives held enhanced CRB checks — enabling teaching to continue uninterrupted for almost three years.
Award Winning
Burntwood High School was awarded the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2015, recognising the development as the best building in the UK that year. The design’s clarity, sculptural form and public realm quality were central to the win.
Delivered on time and within budget, Burntwood now stands as a benchmark for modern educational architecture and for the safe, efficient delivery of major construction works on fully operational school campuses.