Eddisons secures major education sector contract with Bradford sixth form expansion

Eddisons has played a key role in delivering a transformational £4m expansion at Immanuel College in Bradford, which will increase sixth form capacity by 50% from this September.

As the trusted technical advisors to Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust, we supported their successful bid for Department for Education funding aimed at increasing sixth form provision in high-demand areas. Immanuel College, which is consistently over-subscribed, was one of only 42 providers identified as eligible for this funding.

The team, led by director Nick Rymer, provided a comprehensive service: assessing the school’s capacity, leading feasibility work, developing concept designs, and managing the entire pre-planning process. We also wrote the Trust’s successful £4m funding application and were appointed to deliver the project in full – acting as lead architect, project manager, principal designer, and contract administrator.

The expansion will create places for 100 more post-16 students at the school, taking the total size of the Immanuel College sixth form to 330 from September.

The new building includes six high-tech classrooms, a social study space, common room, and a dining area and kitchen. Sustainability and energy efficiency were a key focus of the design, which includes solar panels, LED lighting, and enhanced insulation to reduce carbon emissions and help cut energy costs.

The new sixth form building now occupies part of one of the school’s playing fields. The project also involved levelling a sloping area of the site to make a new Sports England-compliant football pitch for school and community use, along with creating more usable and accessible outdoor space for students. Planning approval for the scheme was granted in 2023, and construction began shortly afterwards.

Nick Rymer says: " We’re proud to be part of this transformational project for Immanuel College and the trust. From feasibility studies and design to planning support and funding advice, this development showcases Eddisons’ full-service capability in the education sector. It’s a pleasure to help deliver facilities that will support young people and the wider community for many years to come."

Marc Burrow, head of estates at the trust, added: “We are absolutely thrilled to have been prioritised for this new sixth form facility and are excited to welcome even more students into an improved post-16 offer that includes a diverse subject mix and excellent teaching in the modern, inspiring learning environment this project has created.”