The new Hylands Primary School brings together two school communities to provide a two-form-entry school for 420 pupils and a 30-place nursery. The two-storey building develops our exemplar school design, a commission from the Department for Education, whose design principles include a central, multi-functional ‘heart’ space and each classroom having direct access to the outdoors, with cloak and WC facilities shared between each pair of classrooms. 

The school is built around two small courtyards, which can be used for any activity and flood the circulation spaces with light. Cosy ‘tree house’ group spaces overlook the courtyards, while the terrace on the roof has fantastic views across London and serves as a fun learning and play area. The building is located on the existing school’s playing fields, therefore meetings were held with Sport England to develop a strategy to meet Havering’s Open Places criteria.

In 2012 the school was joint winner (with Walters & Cohen's Elm Park School) of the BCSE Award for best new build primary school and was shortlisted for an RIBA London Regional Award. 

Photo Credits: Dennis Gilbert/VIEW