George Dixon Academy

Shortlisted in the 2026 Pitched Roofing Awards Best Heritage Roof and Best Tiled Roof

Client – George Dixon Academy

Contractors - NRA Roofing and Flooring Services Ltd

Merchants - Browns Builders Merchant

George Dixon Academy, a landmark Edwardian school building in Birmingham, has undergone a major £1.4 million reroofing programme to secure its long-term future while preserving its historic character.  NRA Roofing & Flooring Services Ltd were appointed to deliver the scheme, replacing approximately 2,500m² of failing plain clay tiles across the Academy’s extensive and complex roofscape, all while the school remained fully operational.

A key priority for the client and project team was to retain the building’s heritage aesthetic . Dreadnought’s Brown Antique Sandfaced Clay Plain Tiles, manufactured locally in Brierley Hill from local etruria marl clay, were specified for their traditional appearance, subtle colour variation and proven durability. Their sanded texture and single camber shape provided the best match to the original Edwardian roof tiles, ensuring the refurbished elevations remained sympathetic to the building’s heritage.

NRA Roofing carried out the work in two carefully sequenced phases to maintain full weather protection and minimise disruption to staff and pupils. JB treated battens, counter battens and a high‑performance breathable membrane were incorporated to meet modern BS 5250 standards for ventilation and condensation control, significantly improving the roof’s long-term performance.

The complex roof featured a number of abutments, dormers and valleys as well as a cupola.  This feature required extensive specialist leadwork, to reproduce the hollow roll detailing and recreate the decorative lead upstand. NRA’s craftsmen created bespoke timber formers and hand‑embossed the decorative pattern directly into single sheets of Code 6 lead, eliminating historic soldered joints that had previously failed through thermal movement. This innovative approach delivered a more durable and visually striking finish while remaining faithful to the original architectural intent.

Despite the challenges of working on a live school site with complex roof geometry and restricted access, the project was completed on time, within budget and to the full satisfaction of the client. The finished roof successfully blends heritage conservation with modern technical standards, showcasing the exceptional craftsmanship of NRA Roofing & Flooring Services Ltd and the authentic traditional aesthetic of Dreadnought’s Brown Antique Sandfaced Clay Plain Tiles.