Accomodating 900 pupils aged 11 to 16 within a 6 Form Entry school, High School Leckhampton provides an area of just over 7,900m2 over two floors.
Taking reference from one of England’s highest performing comprehensive schools, Balcarras Academy, the school passionately incorporates aspirational design values to create an environment for pupils that will unlock their passion for learning and enable them to reach their potential.
The building contains a large 450 seat main hall with raised
bleacher seating to create a performance space for theatre and
the arts. Two wings of teaching accommodation surround
the external courtyard, whilst a four court sports hall with sports
gallery sits alongside a purpose designed Activity Studio for a full
range of indoor sporting activities, from badminton to basketball.
Located on the edge of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the new school reflects and responds to its surrounding environment, incorporating natural materials, careful massing and sympathetic landscaping.
The school's outstanding sporting facilities also includes a new all-weather pitch, grass football and rugby pitches, running pitch, cricket wicket and a multi-use games area, which will also be made available outside of school hours for the community to benefit from.
The project emphasises extensive passive design principles, creating an extremely low-energy build, with the majority of the building naturally ventilated, plus high levels of insulation and an abundance of natural light throughout. Low levels of air infiltration are maintained along with NVHR window mixing boxes and MHVRs to ensure very little energy is lost.
Shortlisted for Architect of the Year Awards 2019
