Topping out ceremony for new Harlow St Mark's School building

Held at St Mark’s West Essex Catholic School, the event celebrated progress on the 8,800-square-metre project being delivered by Kier under the Department for Education’s Schools Rebuilding Programme.

The scheme promises to transform the educational environment by replacing outdated facilities with modern, energy-efficient spaces and enhanced SEND provision.

The topping out ceremony brought together representatives from Kier, the school, the Department for Education, WSP, as well as students and staff, to celebrate the significant progress made on this transformative project (Image: Kier)

Tom Martin, regional director of Kier Construction Eastern & Midlands, said: "Reaching this milestone is a significant achievement for all involved and represents an important step in creating a modern teaching and learning environment for staff and pupils.

"Progress on the school continues at pace and we are proud to work in partnership with the Department for Education to deliver this first-class school."

The new building will include specialist facilities for drama, food technology, and design technology, as well as sports amenities and ICT classrooms. It is designed to be net zero carbon in operation.

During this project, Kier has delivered over £3.5m in social value, with £1.9m invested locally through the supply chain (Image: Kier)

Attendees at the ceremony, including representatives from Kier, WSP, the Department for Education, and the school community, signed the roof capping in a formal acknowledgement of the construction milestone.

John Taylor, Headteacher of St Mark’s West Essex Catholic School, said: "It has been really exciting to watch the new building emerge from the ground and it is a great cause of celebration to reach this point.

The new school building will provide sports facilities, specialist drama facilities, a food technology room, design technology and information communication technology classrooms (Image: Kier)

"The new building will provide an exceptional learning facility that will bring provide students of St Mark's, both now and for generations to come, with an exceptional learning facility. We look forward to delivering high quality education in this outstanding building."

Kier has delivered more than £3.5 million in social value through the project, including £1.9 million invested locally via its supply chain.

The company has also supported the community by delivering 13 weeks of T Levels from Harlow College, 50 apprenticeship weeks, and 155 hours of education engagement. This included a successful Open Doors 2026 event that welcomed Year 10 students from St Mark’s School and Build UK to the construction site.