Nursery and Primary Schools

NURSERY & PRIMARY SCHOOLS

We balance safety and security with an open and accessible learning environment

High-quality primary school design fulfils many criteria, so we welcome stakeholder and end-user input when considering the curriculum, technology, durability, budget, and community demographics.

Primary school is often the first place children attend independently. To support transition from the family home we create a calm, welcoming environment that feels inviting and accessible whilst balancing safety and security.

Size, scale, and acoustics influence a child’s perception of space. We enhance legibility by organising well-proportioned spaces in plan and section, breaking down larger volumes into smaller components. Colour defines zones and positively influences mood. We connect to the outdoors and use natural light and ventilation to increase comfort and wellbeing.

Good school design provides fit-for-purpose, flexible, and inspiring spaces. It supports students as they navigate the physical, intellectual, and social growth needed to extend their independent learning into secondary education.

“The resulting design incorporated all these
ideas and added a layer beyond what I had considered.
The overall finished product has the ‘WOW’ factor, and
that has been acknowledged by all. I could not be happier.”

Headteacher – Leeds Jewish Free School

OUR LADY QUEEN OF MARTYRS RC PRIMARY SCHOOL

The interdependence of faith and learning is at the heart of the design solution.

Providing a progressive education for 420 pupils, this new two-form entry school retains part of the previous building and includes a nursery; KS1 and 2 learning spaces; a flexible ‘heart’ space with learning resources; a dining/assembly area; and a community and music block. Externally, there is an all-weather pitch and two junior football pitches, a secure reception, nursery play space, first-floor terraces, and habitat areas for outdoor learning.

The interdependence of faith and learning is at the heart of the design solution. The physical space is the assimilation of ideas from the learning community and supports a variety of curriculum delivery styles. By amalgamating two single-form entry primary schools, the project unites young people from contrasting communities. The technology-rich environment enables users to explore different methods of teaching and learning.

Sited in a Flood Zone 3, the technical solution evolved through consultation with the local authority and the Environment Agency to incorporate flood compensation measures. A flood basement and a robust flood evacuation plan successfully met the necessary requirements.

LOWER FARM ACADEMY

The school was delivered by the ESFA (Education and Skills Funding Agency) alongside a large-scale residential development and supports the growing pupil population in the area. Accommodating 420 pupils, the entry school is operated by the REAch2 Academy Trust and includes a 26-place nursery.

Designated as a dedicated school site within a larger housing development, the design closely follows the baseline design standards employed by the ESFA. We applied lessons learned from our other school projects to create a super-efficient floor plan, creating a surplus of non-net floor space which we were able to use to reallocate and enhance areas of the school such as the entrance lobby. This provided additional usable space for the school while staying within the strict gross internal floor area target.

IVESON PRIMARY SCHOOL

Through the clever re-modelling of this 1960s building, we helped facilitate an increased pupil intake from 1.5-form entry to 2-form entry. Our detailed phasing strategy facilitated safe, continuous teaching throughout the works.

We reconfigured the layout to make more efficient use of ancillary spaces and under-used circulation, creating new classrooms and learning resource areas, and improving the staff, dining, toilets, and cloakroom spaces. Building services systems and rooftop plant were replaced, and all ceiling and wall finishes refreshed. Externally, parking has been increased and we have improved pedestrian and emergency/maintenance vehicle access.

Other simple and effective interventions have improved the internal environmental conditions, including reducing the external ground levels to mitigate damp issues, upgrading single-glazed windows for better thermal performance, and opening up redundant high-level windows to increase light and boost air circulation.

WYNYARD PRIMARY SCHOOL FOR THE DIOCESE OF DURHAM

Wynyard Primary School is a 450 place school delivered for the Diocese of Durham and funded by the EFSA. The school forms part of a larger development extending the existing Wynyard estate creating new housing in the area. Working alongside ISG under a design and build contract, we developed the concept design for the ESFA producing a scheme that was ready to be delivered on site.

The design of the school is slightly unusual with the main entrance and approach to the building being on the top floor. The building was designed this way to work with the topography of the site and to minimise the visual impact the building has on the surrounding residential units.

LEEDS 10 PFI SCHOOLS

In one of the fastest recorded PFI schemes, we concurrently delivered ten new 1- and 2-form entry primary schools. These replaced older schools and successfully consolidated mainstream primary, early years, and nursery pupils. Every school incorporates wraparound nursery provision, with one school providing Special Education Needs & Disability (SEND) specialisms.

Crucial to success was a comprehensive and valuable consultation process with the school community, and excellent collaboration with the contractor. As Lead Designer, we advised the construction team on material choices and sustainability throughout the Design and Construct phases. We tailored the design process to comply with Leeds City Council’s guidelines, and cohesively address their key issues around design, quality, viability, sustainability, and whole-life costings, including cost-in-use and facilities maintenance. The low-energy buildings use greywater management and maximise the natural features of each site.

By implementing innovative design strategies, we created modern, robust, and flexible buildings which accommodate a wide range of uses and expanding ICT provision.