110 SCHOOLS


the plan so that wherever you are you can see through to the trees.’ Trough the circulation and ventilation strategy, the school ‘becomes a fresh air reservoir. And also children can climb all over the school. Tere are playdecks, with herb gardens that children water themselves. You can go up on a bridge to a mini hut in the woods.’ Lessons learned from the success of this school have been carried through to many subsequent projects, including Alfreton Park SEN School in Derbyshire (see case study).


For most schools, the best they can hope for in terms of improvement is the odd


extension. However, even one building can make a big difference, as Bell Phillips has found with its new sixth form block for the Skinners’ School, a historic grammar school in Tunbridge Wells (see case study). Benefits arise not just from the optimisation of light, air and movement in and around the new Mitchell Building, but also by placing a cultural emphasis on the qualities, skills and facilities these buildings support. Bell Phillips’ handsome three-storey facility has not only tripled the area for the school’s library, but created 21st century learning spaces for the English department and sixth form.


Well-being is one of the key elements embedded in the design, though it wasn’t – at the time – in the brief. Director Tim Bell says: ‘We all spent years in schools as young people where we had a single aspect classroom that was too hot in the summer, too cold in the winter, not enough daylight at the back: schools with too many corridors and spaces that were not very inspirational and not very conducive to encouraging learning.’ Te new design is the opposite of that experience. But the slow evolution of small, permanent additions is of little help during a crisis. Hence, one area of great interest has


This image The series of low-lying buildings provide open and light-filled space for a range of activities


Top right Outdoor space and air circulation was an important part of the site’s design


Bottom right Each classroom offers sheltered play space with views onto the surrounding parkland


RIGHT: FORBES MASSIE


TOP RIGHT: CLTH BOTTOM RIGHT: KILIAN O’SULLIVAN


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