Wooldale Centre for Learning

Kajima was tasked with delivering a visionary PFI project, that provided the highest standards of education, as well as enabling the transformation the school’s facilities into a vital asset for members of the community outside of school hours. The project needed to address county council and government objectives for inclusive education, whilst creating a community hub for sport and lifelong learning.

The result is an environmentally sensitive Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) exemplar complex that uniquely responds to user needs through its design and functionality. A community feel runs throughout the complex with the different facilities divided into blocks along a central 'street' complemented by stunning communal spaces. The facility has been designed to have an open and accessible feel, with generous public spaces that encourage circulation. Its first-class facilities include state-of-the-art IT, design and home economics facilities as well as a public Learning Resource Centre, two cafés and extensive indoor and outdoor sports facilities.

Today, Kajima Community oversee the community activity within the school, which takes place on evenings, weekends and during school holidays. The site offers an extensive physical, social and wellbeing programme to the local community, including; martial arts, dress-making, music lessons, Brownies and circus skills, with over 200 hours of community activity taking place per week.