Cothill House School, Oxfordshire
Our curtain walling and glazing solutions are adaptable to a variety of buildings and uses, including in the educational sector. This case study describes our recent work at an independent school in Oxfordshire, as part of a refurbishment project undertaken by main contractor Feltham Construction Ltd.
About the customer and project
In late 2022, we were contacted by Feltham Construction about a project they were working on at Cothill House School, a prestigious preparatory school in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The school was founded as an independent boys’ school in 1870 and operates a mix of modern and Victorian-era facilities with both contemporary and heritage elements.
As a mixed boarding and day school, Cothill provides both educational and residential services to its pupils, and some of its facilities were due for an update. In September 2025, the school will migrate to a co-educational model, welcoming girls to its classrooms for the first time. In preparation for this, Feltham undertook a significant refurbishment to modernise its facilities. The project was valued at £150,000 and had a completion date of May 2023. Our team was responsible for delivering high-quality aluminium glazing solutions that enhanced both the functionality and aesthetics of the school, in keeping with its modern educational focus and rich cultural and architectural heritage.
The challenge
Schools such as Cothill House face a unique series of challenges when it comes to glazing. The management team were keen to enhance the levels of natural light in the educational and living spaces and improve thermal performance in order to create a safer, inspiring learning environment. At the same time, the school facilities include several distinctive heritage buildings that require a sensitive approach to development and, often, a bespoke approach to glazing design and installation.
Doors and glazing have to be thermally efficient to keep the school comfortable while minimising energy costs, especially over winter, and also have to provide strong security, especially in the children’s dormitories and residential areas.
How we helped
We recommended a range of advanced aluminium glazing and curtain walling systems to improve energy efficiency, security, and ease of use. The project incorporated Technal MX Curtain Walling, creating a modern façade with excellent thermal and acoustic performance.
FY65 Windows with Teleflex gearing were installed to allow controlled ventilation, ensuring a comfortable learning environment. Additionally, STii Doors were fitted with Automatic Swing Operators and Maglocks, providing seamless access controls for enhanced security and convenience.
We recommended these products for the following reasons:
- Technal MX Curtain Walling: Provides a contemporary, energy-efficient façade with excellent thermal and sound insulation properties.
- FY65 Windows with Teleflex Gearing: Enables controlled ventilation, ensuring a healthier indoor environment for students and staff.
- STii Doors with Automatic Swing Operators: Enhances accessibility by allowing hands-free operation, ideal for high-traffic areas.
- Maglocks for Access Control: Ensures security by restricting access to authorised personnel while maintaining ease of entry.
- Energy Efficiency & Sustainability: The glazing solutions contribute to reducing energy consumption, supporting the school’s sustainability goals.
A key challenge for our team was integrating the modern glazing solutions within the school’s existing infrastructure, which included buildings from the 1870s through to the 1990s, while not disrupting lessons and extracurricular activities. Because the school has some boarding students, we couldn’t simply plan our work to coincide with school holidays or after 3.30 – it had to be carefully managed. We worked closely with Feltham Construction Ltd and the school management team to coordinate a precise (and tight) installation schedule, ensuring efficiency and quality.
Outcomes
The completion of this project at Cothill House School is a good example of our team’s expertise in delivering tailored glazing solutions for educational environments. Working alongside the team at Feltham, we were able to deliver high-quality results within the project deadline that respected the school’s academic commitments and the needs of its pupils. By incorporating Technal MX Curtain Walling, FY65 Windows with Teleflex gearing, and STii Doors with automated access control, the school now benefits from enhanced security, efficiency, and a modern aesthetic that supports an optimal learning environment. The combination of automated doors and secure access systems provides a good balance of safety and convenience for staff and students, while new, durable glazing solutions give the school a greater level of energy efficiency.
Find out more
We would like to extend our thanks to the team at Feltham Construction and Cothill House School for their collaboration during this project, and we look forward to future work together. If you would like to find out more or to discuss your own project with one of our experienced team, please [click here to message us], or call us directly on 01455 856028.
