Les Quennevais School, Education Sector

Project Overview

Les Quennevais School is a major new-build education development delivering a state-of-the-art secondary school to meet growing demand and modern performance standards. The original 1960s school building had exceeded its design capacity and no longer met contemporary requirements for space, energy efficiency or learning environments.

The new facility delivers approximately 60,000 m² of built area, incorporating a high-performance external envelope designed to provide long-term durability, fire safety and thermal efficiency, while achieving a distinctive architectural brick façade.

Wetherby Wall Systems was appointed to provide a fully engineered external wall insulation (EWI) and brick slip system to meet the project’s technical, aesthetic and regulatory requirements.

Design and Specification Objectives

The façade specification was developed to achieve the following:

• Provide a non-combustible, thermally efficient external envelope suitable for large-scale education buildings.
• Achieve targeted thermal performance in line with regulatory and client sustainability objectives.
• Deliver a genuine brick aesthetic to support the architectural design intent.
• Accommodate complex façade geometry, including multiple pillars, window reveals and detailed junctions.
• Ensure long-term durability, weather resistance and reduced maintenance requirements.

Early collaboration between the design team, main contractor, installer and Wetherby Wall Systems’ technical team ensured the system selection and detailing supported both performance and constructability across a large and complex building footprint.

System Specification

The specified façade solution comprised the following key elements:

• Substrate:
• Combination of traditional masonry blockwork and Steel Framing System (SFS).
• Insulation:
• Non-combustible stone wool insulation boards, selected for their fire performance, acoustic properties, moisture resistance and long-term compressive strength.
• Thermal Performance:
• Variable insulation thicknesses were utilised across the building to achieve a design U-value of ≤ 0.30 W/m²K, supporting energy efficiency and occupant comfort.

Façade System:

• Wetherby Brick Slip System, incorporating:
  • Real fired clay brick slips, manufactured using traditional brick production processes.
  • Matching corner units (“pistols”) to ensure consistent detailing at returns, reveals and façade junctions.
  • Reinforced base coat and mechanical fixing strategy to support long-term system integrity.

• Finish:
• White smooth clay brick slips, delivering a contemporary architectural appearance with the visual authenticity of traditional masonry.

All components were supplied as part of a fully compatible, system-based solution, designed to maintain performance continuity across the building envelope.

Installation and Technical Delivery

Given the scale of the project, installation required detailed coordination and phased delivery across multiple elevations.

Key technical considerations included:

• Mechanical fixing of stone wool insulation to both blockwork and SFS substrates.
• Integration of reinforced base coats and system build-up to support the extensive brick slip finish.
• Careful detailing at complex architectural features, including columns, window reveals and interface zones.
• Ongoing technical support and site inspections provided by Wetherby Wall Systems’ site support managers to ensure compliance with specification guidance and installation best practice.

The use of a brick slip system significantly reduced programme duration and installation complexity when compared to traditional full brick construction, while maintaining the desired architectural finish.

Performance Outcomes

• Achievement of targeted thermal performance, supporting reduced operational energy demand.
• Non-combustible façade solution suitable for large-scale education environments.
• Durable, weather-resistant external envelope designed for long-term performance.
• Delivery of a genuine brick aesthetic across one of the largest brick slip façades in Jersey, utilising over 500,000 clay brick slips.

Architect and Specifier Value

This project demonstrates how a system-based stone wool EWI and brick slip façade solution can be successfully applied to large, high-profile education developments. It highlights the benefits of:

• Non-combustible insulation for fire safety and acoustic performance.
• System compatibility across mixed substrates (masonry and SFS).
• Efficient construction methodology without compromising architectural intent.
• Early technical engagement to resolve complex detailing and performance requirements.

Client and Stakeholder Feedback

Sarah Hague, Headteacher, Les Quennevais School, commented:

“The new Les Quennevais School will truly be a school for the future. It will inspire and drive the ambition of a whole new generation and transform the experiences of our staff and students. We are hugely excited, proud and feel truly privileged to at last have the facilities that match the outstanding teaching that we deliver day in, day out.”

Project Significance

As one of the largest brick slip façade installations in Jersey, this project represents a benchmark for the use of non-combustible EWI systems in large-scale education buildings, combining performance-driven specification with high-quality architectural outcomes.