“Facilities include classrooms, language laboratories and science labs, as well as


a theatre and a dance studio also used in the evenings by drama groups and keep fit classes from the local community –


which can also make use of the sports hall and the floodlit multi-use games area”


shutter fins operate automatically to moderate the heat. The design team took on board ideas from workshops


involving council representatives, pupils and teachers, as well as community forums. “It was an interactive partnership between all the relevant


parties, and some very valid suggestions were incorporated into the designs,” says Paul. Carrying out major construction work and segregating it from


pupils and parents while the school continued to operate was a major challenge. Much thought went into how the pupils could access the educational facilities. The site has only one vehicle entrance – also used by pupils


attending the primary school at the rear of the college site – and delivery lorries had to avoid clashes with the school’s normal arrivals and departures. “But it worked well and the head of the college was very


supportive of the construction works, and really did take on board the fact that the constructor would do everything possible to minimise noise and disruption,” says Paul. “It was a question of sitting down with the head and discussing


everything. In the case of exams, we had to agree the best place to hold them within the college so there was a minimum amount of noise transmission. In a few instances, exams were held off-site, next-door to Chessington World of Adventures, just 400m down


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