A BREEAM Outstanding building for a leading independent education trust.

A new, fully accessible school with sustainable design and enhanced landscaping extends from a central atrium, housing 14 classrooms, a sciencelab, ICT suite, creative arts spaces, and an expanded library. Natural ventilationand air-source heating support comfort and environmental performance.

A new low-rise junior school in a residential neighbourhood fronting the Grange and White Ledge Conservation Area sits south of the senior school and shares a central multi-use games facility. Organised around a central atrium, it includes 14 classrooms, a reception, spaces for life sciences, art, music, and a library. Distinct zones accommodate junior, senior, and sixth-form students, with the latter above the junior school, accessed via a separate staircase.

In a residential setting, careful management of external plants was essential. Acoustic treatments helped mitigate aircraft noise from Heathrow, especially on one side of the building. Both acoustics and pedagogy influenced classroom adjacencies, keeping lively spaces like life sciences apart from quieter areas like art and music. Façades were refined through reveals, overhangs, louvers, and glazing depth to balance daylight, ventilation,and acoustic performance.

Sustainability and comfort were key drivers. Classrooms are primarily naturally ventilated, with fresh air drawn through openable windows and atrium rooflights to create a stack effect. In winter, façades incorporate louvers and dampers, allowing moderated ventilation without draughts.

Only specialist spaces such as science, music, and art are served by mechanical systems meeting performance and compliance standards. Low-carbon heating uses air-source heat pumps, with hot water from a hybrid system—half central cylinder, half local electric provision. The saw-tooth roof supports photovoltaics, and upgraded electrical infrastructure allows full electrification without a substation. Enhanced landscaping encourages play and exploration. The design includes wayfinding knitting together classrooms, play areas and circulation routes; with compliant bollards, ground lights and subtle top-of-building illumination.

The new Junior School creates a healthy and inspiring hub. Integrated into its residential context, it reflects a commitment to environmental responsibility, where learning, community, and sustainability thrive.