The promise of education has always rested on more than just books and blackboards. It’s embedded in the spaces children occupy, the light that streams into their classrooms, the freedom of outdoor exploration, and the subtle rhythms of a thoughtfully designed school day. In Wigan, this vision is finding real-world shape as Galliford Try breaks ground on a transformational project: the new RL Hughes Primary School.
At first glance, the new school will appear as a single-storey, 2,250 sqm building nestled within its community, but beneath the clean lines and functional layout lies a philosophy of learning that puts nature, movement, and imagination front and centre. Designed to accommodate 420 pupils, the layout intentionally places every classroom with direct access to the outdoors. In an age where children are increasingly glued to screens and disconnected from the natural world, this simple design choice is quietly revolutionary 🌱.
It’s not just a matter of aesthetics or green trends. Studies have shown that direct access to outdoor environments improves attention spans, reduces anxiety, and fosters curiosity. Teachers, too, have long advocated for spaces that give children room to breathe—both physically and creatively. When a four-year-old can step from their classroom onto grass without passing through three sets of corridors and a locked gate, learning starts to feel less confined, more alive.
This design direction didn’t happen by accident. Galliford Try engaged closely with the school leadership in the early planning stages, something that’s often overlooked in large-scale construction projects. Instead of imposing a blueprint, they listened—to what teachers wanted, to how children used their current spaces, and to what parents hoped their children would experience daily. By refining the building’s footprint, the team was able to carve out larger play areas for the early years cohort, an age group for whom movement and physical freedom are not luxuries, but necessities.
There’s also a powerful lesson here in balancing educational ambition with construction pragmatism. Galliford Try isn’t new to building schools, and their previous work on St Anne's Primary in the region gave them a playbook they could adapt and improve. One of the major efficiencies they’re bringing into the RL Hughes project is the use of precast concrete elements, which significantly accelerate the building process. This not only ensures faster delivery but also reduces disruption to the surrounding community and allows staff to plan for a timely transition 📐.
But the real magic in this project isn’t just speed—it’s sustainability and forward-thinking architecture. Galliford Try has committed to its “optimum school” principles, which include energy-efficient design, smart space utilisation, and future-ready infrastructure. While the school is being built for today’s needs, it’s also adaptable for tomorrow’s challenges. Modular learning spaces, ample natural light, and upgraded HVAC systems are now becoming the baseline for any modern school build, but this one stands out for its emphasis on listening first and building second.
Claire Jackson, Galliford Try’s education director, summed it up perfectly when she highlighted the importance of aligning with the school’s vision. But what really makes her words resonate is that this isn’t just marketing speak. Local authorities have sometimes been burned by developers who treat schools as checkboxes in public-sector portfolios. What’s happening here feels different. It’s a collaboration, not a transaction.
The £15.6 million investment, awarded under the Department for Education’s S21 framework, is more than just a contract. It’s an opportunity to reimagine what learning environments should feel like in 2025 and beyond. With climate awareness on the rise and a renewed focus on student well-being, public school projects need to do more than meet codes—they must inspire. And that’s exactly the direction this build seems to be heading 🌞.
What’s also noteworthy is how the school design dovetails with community needs. Car parking might seem like an afterthought to some, but to working parents managing drop-offs in the rush-hour fog of a Wigan morning, smart transport design is a game-changer. The addition of new sports pitches, too, reinforces the school’s role as a neighborhood hub. In many towns, the primary school is one of the last shared civic spaces where people connect, whether it’s at football practice or a summer fair. Ensuring that these amenities are modern and inviting helps strengthen those everyday relationships that build stronger communities.
It’s easy to reduce stories like this to renderings and budgets, but behind every figure are families whose lives will be shaped by what’s being built. A child who feels safe and seen in their classroom. A teacher who doesn’t have to fight against broken heating systems or crumbling windows. A parent who knows their child’s day includes both nature and nurture. These are the real dividends of thoughtful public investment 💡.
There’s a larger conversation here, too, about the role of public-private partnerships in shaping the built environment. Galliford Try has proven that commercial expertise doesn’t have to come at the cost of empathy or community focus. In fact, when managed well, these partnerships become a model for how infrastructure can serve people instead of just numbers. RL Hughes Primary School isn’t just a construction site—it’s a testing ground for how education, architecture, and social impact can come together meaningfully.
As the building begins to take shape over the next year, the excitement won’t just be confined to press releases or architectural previews. It will be in the chatter of children watching the crane swing above their playground. In the meticulous planning of teachers imagining how they’ll arrange their new spaces. In the relief of administrators who’ve spent years hoping for better conditions. And one day soon, in the joy of a six-year-old, running barefoot from their classroom door to the garden without barriers in the way. That’s when you know the design worked. That’s when you know the investment mattered.