We take a closer look at Treetops Free School, the Government’s first net-zero carbon school delivered through its pathfinder scheme

The 3,293sq m project was the Department for Education’s first net-zero carbon pathfinder scheme

Educational facilities have an important role to play in all aspects of sustainability.

But the area where there is the most work to do is in reducing the environmental impact of services, particularly in the drive to achieve net-zero carbon.

And it is through estates development, and efficient facilities management, that these targets will be met.

In August 2022, work was completed on Treetops Free School in Grays, Essex.

This 3,293sq m project was the Department for Education’s (DfE) first net-zero carbon pathfinder scheme.

Procured through the DfE’s Modern Methods of Construction (MMC1) framework, contractor, Net Zero Buildings, led the scheme, delivering the carbon-neutral facility in less than 18 months.

Guiding the way

The school was established to educate up to 140 students between the ages of three and 16 with autism, social, and communication difficulties and will evidence how the public sector is guiding the way in the decarbonisation of public buildings.

Dan Allison, divisional director at Net Zero Buildings, explains: “This building proves how green and clean the schools of the future will be.

“Treetops was determined to turn all the sustainability talk into action in order to make a real difference.

“The school wanted to find a better way to build, so we did everything possible to lower the carbon footprint of both the construction and operation of this school – right down to the finer details, such as the goat-hair carpet tiles.”

The interiors are designed to be easily reconfigured

Flexibility and efficiency

To meet the strict net-zero targets, energy efficiency, and flexibility were key to the design.

Allison said: “The timing couldn’t have been any better – while most schools were dreading their fuel bills, Treetops Free School achieves net zero in operation – which will be supported significantly by the energy produced by its solar PV panels.

“Treetops is also set up to meet the teaching team’s needs and adapt to how their needs may change in the future.

“For example, the school currently has a 90/10 split of ambulant to non-ambulant students, as well as an 84/56 MLD to ASC mixture of learning needs.

“These figures are likely to change over the years, therefore the whole building is designed to be easily reconfigured.”

The school’s photovoltaic (PV) panels will produce around 300KW pa, making the building net zero in operation

Catering for all

He added: “The challenge of the design was catering for all the various students’ educational, therapeutic, and medical needs.

“The internal spaces range from a sensory room – with video and lighting to reduce adult intervention – to parental spaces, which will be used for family therapy.

“Outside, there’s lots of soft landscaping and permeable paving to reduce water run-off, which decreases flooding and contamination – complying with sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS).”

Treetops was built using a structural timber panel solution and is significantly insulated, meeting the Government’s carbon pathfinder 10-point plan.

And all building systems are powered electrically – even the Bunsen burners within the science department.

The school’s photovoltaic (PV) panels will produce around 300KW pa, making the building net zero in operation.

Anthony Hattam, headteacher at Treetops Free School, said: “Over a period of 18 months we saw things slowly take shape, from an area of wasteland to the building we have today.

“Being part of a ‘free school’ build, and one that is ‘net zero’, is certainly a once-in-a-career opportunity for many, and something we feel privileged to be part of.

“Knowing that the school will not only help the pupils of Thurrock educationally, but also environmentally, is incredibly important to us all.”

The school was established to educate up to 140 students between the ages of three and 16 with autism, social, and communication difficulties