London-based architecture practice Penoyre & Prasad, a studio of Perkins&Will, has designed a new 420-pupil primary school in Sugar House Island, East London. The new School will support the unique curriculum of the education provider, the Big Education Trust, and is sister to the Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ School 21, in nearby Stratford.

There is a high demand for school places in East London where, in recent years, local schools have excelled in producing high performing students. School 360 aims to continue this legacy in the area, providing high quality teaching and a welcoming environment for local families.

The building has been designed specifically to support the school’s unique curriculum based on the three pillars of head, heart and hand: developing the head to provide rich knowledge and deep understanding; the heart to focus on wellbeing and relationships; and the hand to encourage every child to learn about creativity, problem-solving and the arts.

These three pillars were a key driver in informing the design and layout of the building and will encourage project-based learning, in a warm and welcoming environment. The classrooms are flexible and allow for quick layout changes to increase students’ engagement levels. This has been achieved by removing the traditional static teaching position, allowing an interactive screen to be positioned in many locations, and including movable walls between pairs of classrooms.

With external and project-based learning key to School 360’s pedagogy, the outdoor spaces, including the rooftop playground, have been designed for both recreational sports and outdoor learning.

The school offers students a variety of learning experiences and includes a range of spaces, such as a ‘Makerspace’ dedicated to arts, crafts, and technology; ‘Oracy Stairs’ on each floor, which offer informal seating and teaching space; and a flexible studio that has been designed for dance, sport, and performances. The school also boasts a dedicated room to cater to students with special educational needs (SEN).

With floor space of 2,413 m², and spanning over three storeys, the building sits on a highly complex, restricted urban site. The scheme is designed within a rectangular footprint as efficiently as possible, remaining respectful to its sensitive setting.

The outdoor play is located in two main areas. The rooftop includes a playground, community garden, and a multi-use games area (MUGA), whilst the ground floor playground provides more green spaces, including a ‘Forest School’ and an outdoor classroom for reading and group activities. Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms have direct access to the outside, with designated play areas for Reception and Year 1. The design has maximised the number of classrooms that have direct access to outdoor space by lifting the main hall and kitchen to the first floor.