Investing in our schools, building better environments at Ovingham Middle School and Dr Thomlinson C of E Middle School

At Cheviot Learning Trust, we believe that the environment in which pupils and staff work has a direct impact on the quality of education we can deliver. When a building is uncomfortable, inefficient, or in need of repair, it creates barriers. When it is well-maintained, welcoming and fit for purpose, it allows everyone inside to focus on what matters most.

That is why we work hard, as a Trust, to support our schools in securing funding, managing complex projects and delivering lasting improvements to their buildings and infrastructure. Two recent projects at Ovingham Middle School and Dr Thomlinson C of E Middle School show what that commitment looks like in practice.

Rejuvenating Ovingham Middle School

Ovingham Middle School's main building had been held back by its original 1970s single-glazed metal windows. These windows were difficult to open, thermally inefficient and prone to breaking, contributing to high heat loss and poor ventilation across the building.

We worked in partnership with D3 Associates, the Trust secured School Condition Allowance Funding and delivered a full replacement of all windows, curtain walling and external doors across the site. The work was carefully planned across multiple phases, each time coinciding with school holiday periods so that the impact on teaching and learning was kept to an absolute minimum.

The first phase focused on the main entrance, west-facing classrooms and a full refurbishment of the entrance and reception areas, including the installation of new aluminium windows and doors. Phase two followed over Easter 2025, replacing the gym windows, with the third phase completing the south-west elevations in summer 2025. 

The results have been immediately felt. The school has reported more stable classroom temperatures, significantly improved natural ventilation and much better control over thermal comfort throughout the year. The new systems are also more durable, easier to maintain and safer for everyone on site. The transformation brought a brighter appearance and welcoming space, contributing to a better learning environment.

Investing in a sustainable future

At Dr Thomlinson C of E Middle School, we led an ambitious programme to decarbonise the school's energy systems, improving both sustainability and the day-to-day comfort of the building for pupils and staff.

Working with Eddisons and drawing on funding from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme alongside School Condition Allocation funding, the project replaced the school's aged heating infrastructure with a modern electric air source heat pump system, supported by new insulation, rooftop solar panels and an upgraded electric substation. The work addressed the disconnect between the modern school building and outdated heating and power systems.

The significant impact has reduced carbon emissions considerably. Classroom temperatures are better regulated throughout the year, and the warmth across the building is more reliable with the new heating system. Financial savings increased as energy costs reduced, which will be directly rerouted to other areas of supporting pupils. The solar panels generate clean energy on-site, further reducing the school's reliance on the grid, while the upgraded substation ensures the building's electrical infrastructure is fit to support these systems long into the future.

Supporting our schools

Both of these projects reflect something central to how Cheviot Learning Trust operates. We know that everyone in schools works best when they can focus on teaching and learning, rather than navigating complex funding applications or managing large-scale construction projects. It is part of our role as a Trust to carry that weight, bringing expertise in project management, procurement and funding to bear in support of every school in our family.

We are proud of what has been achieved at Ovingham Middle School and Dr Thomlinson C of E Middle School, and we look forward to continuing this work across all of our schools in the years ahead.