Wellfield Academy

Name: One Darnley Road
Price range: $

Leyland, UK

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Schools and Colleges

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AHR School Wellfield Academy Architecture Leyland10

AHR School Wellfield Academy Architecture Leyland 5

AHR School Wellfield Academy Architecture Leyland 9

AHR School Wellfield Academy Architecture Leyland 7

project overview

Shaping a sustainable, future-ready learning environment

The Wellfield Academy is designed as a truly sustainable learning environment, putting nature-based learning and student wellbeing at the centre. Offering 900 secondary school places, it’s one of five pioneering GenZero national pathfinder schools.

We are also proud to be delivering another of the five GenZero pathfinder schools, Woodside Primary School in Hertfordshire. Both schools are designed to achieve net zero carbon in operation and will shape the future of sustainable school design across the UK.

Replacing the existing school on the same site, the new campus brings together a two-storey commons block and a three-storey teaching block, linked by a first-floor bridge to create a seamless, flexible space. A phased development will ensure continuity for students, protecting their learning and keeping disruption to a minimum.

With nature-based design at its heart, the Academy promotes a calm, nurturing and inclusive environment. Through biophilic design principles and enhanced outdoor spaces, students gain daily access to nature, supporting wellbeing, development and behaviour, helping to improve learning outcomes.

Thoughtfully designed, the school meets the current Department for Education (DfE)‘s ‘Spec 21’ Output Specification, whilst also incorporating sustainability principles which make up the GenZero framework. With welcoming communal spaces available to the public for out of hours use, this holistic, future-proof learning environment will become a hub for the community and standard in future primary school design.

The Wellfield Academy represents community focused approach to education, setting a new benchmark for low carbon, high quality school design, offering a replicable model for future projects across the sector.

Nothing but the best. Our mission is to provide the very best for all of our community. This means creating an inclusive environment where staff and students, who are known as individuals, endeavour to be the best they can be in a highly aspirational and committed learning community.”

Wellfield Academy

sustainability

A healthier and supportive environment for everyone who uses it

As one of the first GenZero pathfinder schools, this development plays a key role in setting a new benchmark for ultra-low carbon, high-performance educational buildings. Every design decision supports long term sustainability and future adaptability. Key features include:

Mass timber construction, chosen for its natural carbon-storing properties and helping to significantly reduce embodied carbon
A simple, repeatable layout that streamlines construction, improves efficiency and allows the school to adapt more easily over time
Passive design strategies, such as maximised daylight, natural ventilation and optimised building orientation, all reducing operational energy use
A bio-solar roof, combining photovoltaic panels with green roofing to generate and manage energy, whilst supporting local biodiversity
A fabric-first approach that prioritises long-lasting, low-impact, low-VOC materials, delivering an airtightness target of 1.6 m³/h·m²

Designed to meet current needs and perform well over time, the school will deliver long-term energy savings, reduce maintenance requirements and support healthier, more comfortable spaces for students and staff.

Outside, the landscape complements these principles by providing green, welcoming spaces that encourage outdoor learning, support biodiversity and help manage heat and air quality throughout the year.

As a pathfinder project, Wellfield Academy goes beyond delivering a single school. It is contributing to a national model for the next generation of sustainable school design, helping shape how future schools can be built more sustainably, without compromise to quality, flexibility or experience.

Nature-based learning

Exceptional spaces that enrich learning experiences

We have considered every space with biophilic design in mind, ensuring students can stay connected to nature throughout the day. Classrooms enjoy clear views to the outdoors, while natural materials and a calming, muted palette create a soothing, grounded environment that brings the outside in.

Our design includes a covered outdoor classroom, so that every student can enjoy outdoor learning, regardless of the weather. Enhanced sports facilities promote active play and a centrally located courtyard with a variety of social spaces, fosters collaboration and connection between the students. Implementing these biophilic features contribute to reducing stress, improving concentration and promoting wellbeing for students and staff alike.

design concept

An approach based on simplicity, clarity and replicability

The school is organised into three clear components, a teaching block, a commons block and a sports hall, with intuitive routes linking each. The teaching block follows a simple north–south axis, maximising natural daylight and fresh air while giving students and staff a clear easy-to-navigate layout. The commons block brings together the school’s key shared spaces, including the dining hall, drama studio and assembly area, all designed to be welcoming and adaptable for community use beyond the school day.

From the outset, the focus has been on creating a calm, safe and well-structured environment. Classrooms are positioned around the perimeter to capture daylight and natural ventilation, while internal voids support effective airflow and connectivity across floors. This approach results in a healthy, comfortable and future-proof learning environment, grounded in simplicity, sustainability and the needs of modern education.

key information