dRMM have completed Wintringham Primary Academy, a prototype typology for an all-timber school that delivers an inspirational learning environment fully integrated into its natural surroundings.

The 3,615 m2 three form entry school is built on the principles of ‘naturalness’; achieving excellent natural light, ventilation, acoustics and embeds its users within greenery, both inside and outside. Nestled within the Cambridgeshire countryside, the primary school is the focal point for a new community at Wintringham, a 205ha urban extension of St Neots town centre. The school is the focal point of the new market square, a bold civic building that serves as a connector for the integration of the new and existing communities.

The design concept sought inspiration from ‘forest school’ principles, offering a variety of outdoor learning experiences and indoor teaching spaces that directly connect

into nature. Dubbed the ‘avocado’, teaching spaces are clustered into groups of three and organised around a central woodland grove – the round ‘stone’ of the avocado. This spatial arrangement strategy, which dRMM refer to as ‘learning the round’, further develops key principles explored in the studio’s earlier school projects.

The central woodland grove forms the heart of the school and represents the common vision between the Wintringham neighbourhood and the school Academy in promoting

sustainability and wellbeing. The visual openness and simplicity of the design allows pupils to easily navigate the space, making the building’s scale feel less intimidating, especially important for the youngest pupils. The grove itself is characterised by its soft landscaping and trees, providing a calm environment for respite and quiet focused learning.

The building’s cross laminated timber frame is exposed throughout, further celebrating the forest school concept, spreading a sense of warmth throughout the school. Beyond the pleasing visual appearance, studies carried out by the Medical University of Graz, have found that pupils studying in exposed timber environments experience lower heart rates

and, reduced levels of stress (Kelz and Moser, 2011), more conducive to concentration and learning.

The school extends a warm welcome to its new community through provision of shared facilities. A multipurpose hall and studio are located at the head of the school and can be easily accessed from the civic square out of school hours, making them the perfect home for community exercise classes, Scout groups and a myriad of other community activities.

Graduating glazed tiles wrap the building’s skin in a brilliant spectrum of colours inspired by the seasonal variation found in woodland forests. Vertically arranged, these tiles stretch upwards like tree trunks. As you move around the building each colour gradually transforms into the next providing each part of the school with its own unique identity offering pupils with a simple method of way finding.

A curved slimline roof gently floats over the teaching spaces, sheltering the external play spaces below. The exposed timber aesthetic of the interior roof soffit continues to the outside forming the underside of the roof overhang.

“With nature at its heart, sustainability in its structure, and inspiration in its spaces, Wintringham Primary Academy is the realisation of a collective belief in delivering the environment that every young learner needs.”

Philip Marsh, Director, dRMM

“It was a bit of a wow moment when we saw it for the first time. I don't think I could quite believe it. This is a fantastic building and we are incredibly proud of it. And actually, we want to show it off to everybody, because it's just so wonderful. It already has a fantastic impact on the children. It encourages them to learn and it inspires them.”

Tracy Bryden, Executive Headteacher, Wintringham Primary Academy

The school is the result of a close partnership between master developer Urban&Civic, architects dRMM, a contractor team led by Morgan Sindall, the County Council Education team and Diamond Learning Trust who have worked at each step of the way to inform the vision and ensure it delivers quality rounded education through inspiring indoor and outdoor spaces.