Sneak peek: inside Craighall and Blindwells primary schools
A back to school 'to do' list for most people means new uniform, new school bag and new stationery.
For our Strategic Asset and Capital Project Management service, this year's list has been more extensive - delivering two brand new primary schools in time for the start of the new term.
Blindwells and Craighall primary schools will open their doors to learners for the first time on Wednesday 13 August. It’s an exciting day for the school’s staff and children, but particularly for our teams who have been responsible for the delivery of the new buildings.
Working across services
Our Strategic Asset and Property Management Service led on the buildings’ design and interior design and monitored and managed both schools to ensure they meet the required quality and cost levels. They also worked closely with other services, such as education, finance, IT and facilities management colleagues, and the two Head Teachers when appointed, to coordinate all aspects essential to the establishment of a new school ready for staff and children.
Throughout the process, our teams have worked with our development partner, Hub South East, to take the projects from initial designs to completion. JM Architects worked-up designs created by our in-house architects with Balfour Beatty appointed as main contractor.
Variety of environments
Both schools have been designed with the shared accommodation of a multipurpose hall, dining, social stair and library placed centrally and classrooms and supporting spaces wrapped around them. The entire buildings are viewed as learning spaces, not just the classrooms, allowing teachers to embrace the variety of environments to deliver their teaching in alternative and more informal ways throughout the school.
A flexible approach means that areas can be used for multiple functions both by the school and external groups, helping to promote the schools as focal points in their newly-established communities.
Natural light and inspiration
Extensive glass provides plenty of natural light and views outside to keep the buildings bright and promote wellbeing, while external spaces offer opportunities for structured outdoor, free and imaginative play and woodland exploration.
The interior design has been carefully considered to echo the natural environments surrounding each school and provide a warm and calming atmosphere for children, staff and visitors. Craighall’s palette of sage greens, soft taupes and heather tones complements the natural landscape while deep teal, soft blues and gentle earth tones at Blindwells reflect the area’s mining heritage and the new town’s proximity to the coast. Unique supersized graphics in both schools installed in the multipurpose halls root the buildings firmly in their locations inspired by undulating coastal patterns (Blindwells) and layered geological formations (Craighall).
Our Interior Design and Facilities Officer Lynda Wightman commented: "It's been great to be part of the project design team delivering two new primary schools. It’s been a huge team effort not only from the Design Team, external consultants and across our many council departments working collaboratively to deliver these new buildings."
The new schools will be enjoyed by learners for generations to come.
