Published: 8th July 2026

News in brief:

• The James Dyson Foundation commits a further £1.8 million to fund Malmesbury C of E Primary School’s state-of-the-art STEAM centre and expansion – bringing its total pledge to £7.8 million, its largest ever local donation.

• The new funding will go towards specialist laboratories and advanced tech, as well as an expansion from 420 to 630 primary school places for the growing town.

• The project has received strong local backing, with 94 per cent of local people in favour according to a public consultation, and planning permission recently granted by Wiltshire Council.

The James Dyson Foundation has committed an additional £1.8m to Malmesbury C of E Primary School, bringing its total donation to £7.8m. This marks the Foundation’s largest local donation to date. 

The plans will deliver a state-of-the-art STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) centre and nine new classrooms, expanding school capacity from 420 to 630 places to help more local families access education in Malmesbury as the town rapidly grows with new housing developments. 

The project has strong support from local families. In a 2024 public consultation, 94 per cent of local respondents backed the expansion, and the proposal was approved by then Education Secretary Gillian Keegan as “a generous offer that will benefit children, ensuring high quality STEM education.”

Keegan was also backed by two of her predecessors, Michael Gove and Lord Baker. The Department for Education confirmed on 22 June this year: “There is no change to the approval for the expansion and STEAM Centre.” 

The STEAM centre is designed to enrich the national curriculum, blending arts and science with real-world problem-solving, innovation and creativity. While these subjects are usually taught separately, James Dyson believes this cross-disciplinary approach inspires children to pursue science and engineering. 

Two classrooms will be converted into specialist STEAM laboratories equipped with advanced technology – such as virtual reality headsets and hands-on learning equipment. Dyson engineers will partner directly with teachers and pupils, developing innovative educational activities that bring science, engineering and invention to life. These facilities will also extend to neighbouring schools, offering visits and remote learning opportunities. 

As part of James Dyson’s recent guest edit of Radio 4’s Today Programme, he took the BBC’s Nick Robinson to a workshop at the school, with Dyson engineers leading a Year 6 class. 

The project also mirrors similar education initiatives by James, such as funding the Dyson STEAM centre at Gresham’s School in Norfolk, where his father taught and where he was educated, alongside the establishment of the Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology and the James Dyson Award – all focused on inspiring young engineers.

The Foundation continues its longstanding support for the local area which has been home to Dyson’s R&D campus for over 30 years. 

Previous donations include £575,000 to the Bath Schools project, £4m to the Dyson Cancer Centre and £750,000 to the Dyson Neonatal Care Centre at the Royal United Hospital (RUH) in Bath. There have been a further £632,841 in additional community donations across Malmesbury and the surrounding area.  

The increased funding reaffirms the Foundation’s commitment to the project, which boosts biodiversity by 10 per cent, ensures high levels of energy efficiency and uses sustainable hemp construction. In response to community feedback, the school grounds will also now include a new footpath linking new housing to established areas of the town.