November 2025 – Arcadis, the global leader in sustainable design and consultancy for natural and built assets, in collaboration with Gardiner & Theobald and Willmott Dixon, has celebrated the completion of a transformative new campus for Paddock School in Tooting, commissioned by the London Borough of Wandsworth. The project addresses the borough’s growing demand for SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) provision.
Paddock School supports pupils with moderate to severe learning difficulties, autism, and complex needs. Previously located on an overcrowded site in Roehampton, the school will now operate from the former Broadwater Primary School site, decommissioned in 2023. The new campus will accommodate 192 pupils between the ages of 11 and 19 and allow for an additional form of entry per year group.
Arcadis led the architectural and landscape design, serving as the architect, landscape architect and BIM manager on the project. The team collaborated closely with school leaders, parents and carers to ensure the design reflects the school’s ethos and operational needs. Insights from both existing sites informed a layout that fosters inclusive learning and community engagement.
The new design retains the larger junior building and replaces the smaller infants building with a modern extension housing most teaching spaces. A prominent main entrance sits beside a Community Café, where pupils grow, prepare, and sell food - promoting life skills, independence, and inclusion. Outdoor learning is central, with classroom gardens, a sensory trail, forest garden and multi-use games area.
Sustainability is a cornerstone of the project. The new build section achieved a BREEAM Outstanding rating of 86.8%, while the refurbished building earned a BREEAM Excellent rating of 81.7%, reflecting Arcadis’ commitment to low-carbon, energy-efficient design.
The £20 million project began with a feasibility study in October 2022 and reached practical completion in September 2025. Now completed, Paddock School will significantly expand access to specialist education in Wandsworth and provide a nurturing, future-ready environment for pupils with complex needs.
Paul Turpin, Principal Education lead at Arcadis Architecture & Urbanism, said, “Paddock School is a landmark project for the London Borough of Wandsworth that exemplifies how inclusive design, and sustainability can be successfully integrated — even within the constraints of a complex heritage site. The converting of a three-storey Victorian building into a modern SEND setting demanded innovative thinking and close collaboration with all key parties, including the senior leadership team at Paddock School, the London Borough of Wandsworth, Gardiner & Theobald and Willmott Dixon. This new facility will play a vital role in addressing the Wandsworth’s growing demand for specialist education provision.”
