Education construction projects leads the recovery

Education construction projects are set to lead the recovery in industry starts.

Glenigan data points to rising activity in education construction projects next year, when the underlying value of project starts (schemes valued at up to £100 million) is forecast to surge by 20%. This is the highest predicted rise of any of the industry’s 10 main sectors, as government programmes and urgent estate upgrades transform education into the industry’s most reliable growth sector.

Glenigan economics director Allan Wilén says: “This recovery will be driven by pent-up demand as delayed projects move forward, supported by sustained government investment.

“Key programmes, including the School Rebuilding Programme and funding for further education and essential repairs such as Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) remediation, will underpin activity.”

Underlying starts for education construction projects are expected to total nearly £7 billion next year alone.

A large slice of this work will be delivered in England, Wales, and Scotland through a £9.5 billion Construction & Capital Works framework, which has just been agreed by the education buying body, Crescent Purchasing Consortium (Project ID: 25478642).

The framework, which has been split into 45 lots covering different regions and contract types, starts on July 1 and will run for two years with options to extend by a further six years.

Rebuilding regional schools

The 10-year School Rebuilding Programme is due to deliver 500 rebuilding projects over the next decade. (Project ID: 20264300).

According to Glenigan project intelligence, there are 573 school schemes up to sixth form in England, Wales, and Scotland with detailed planning permission and expected to start in the next 12 months.

The South East has the largest pipeline of school work with 100 approved projects ready to go. These range from a £4.5 million revamp of North Hinksey Church of England School in Oxfordshire, where a start is expected this summer (Project ID: 24327971), to a £28 million extension to a Special Educational Needs campus at East Oaks in Southampton (Project ID: 24288044). Construction is expected to begin at the end of the summer.

The region with the next largest programme of schools’ work is London, where 59 approved schemes should start in the next year, including an £8.7 million building at University College School in Camden (Project ID: 23403763).

RAAC repairs

Work to repair schools hit by RAAC problems is also driving a rise in education starts.

The government has identified 237 schools and colleges affected by RAAC, including the Bromfords School at Wickford in Essex, which is subject to a £54.9 million redevelopment (Project ID: 22465315, and Bramhall High School in Manchester, where Willmott Dixon starts work on a £15.1 million rebuilding this summer (Project ID: 23396873).

 Top education contractors

Willmott Dixon has won the largest amount of education work in the 12 months to the end of May 2026.

The contractor’s £182 million order book also includes smaller education schemes such as a £2.3 million redevelopment of Dunvegan Primary School in the Scottish Highlands.

Top 10 Education Contractors

More education work

Education work will grow more slowly further out, but an increase of 5% in underlying starts is still expected in 2028 as the sector keeps opportunities flowing.