An inspirational environment

Phoenix High SchoolThe new Sixth Form Centre at Phoenix High School in west London, was finished earlier this year and has exceeded all expectations. Located in one of the UK’s most socially deprived areas the school wanted a new sixth form centre that would raise the aspirations of all its students.

Eve Waldron Design, the furniture fittings and equipment consultant, has created a flexible environment to accommodate different teaching styles. A variety of different desk layouts are used in the rooms so rather than looking like regular school classrooms they have a more collegiate feel. Unusual shapes and sizes of furniture fill some of the classrooms and breakout areas while in other areas office chairs are used.

The high spec furniture is more on the lines of what you would expect to find in a successful company’s office. The school hopes that this more professional environment will encourage students to aspire to greater things than they might have otherwise.

Sir William Atkinson, executive head teacher, said: “I am delighted with the new Post 16 Centre, it has exceeded all my expectations! The collaborative process between the staff, students and design team helped to widen the students’ perspectives, increase their expectations and now with the new Post 16 Centre finished they are able to see their aspirations realised.

“The vision around the designing of a variety of teaching environments in the new building was to both challenge and stimulate students, providing a flexible and dynamic working environment for all. The furniture is an integral part of this vision. Using a variety of different classroom set ups, we get away from regimented rows of desks and promote greater creativity and responsibility.”

Working together
The consultative design process with both school staff and students helped ensure the new centre met the needs of all the stakeholders. This process also gave students practical insight into new professions.

Garry McMillan, Phoenix High School’s director of facilities and development, said:
“From the outset Phoenix High School made the decision to manage this project through the school and a team of external consultants. This would cut costs and, ultimately, ensure that the school got a building that was inspiring, unique and functional. The project team that was created has worked tirelessly to ensure that the school’s goals were met.”

The result is a functional, inspiring and iconic building. Eve Waldron and her team have been able to consult with all parties involved with the building, not just school executive staff and teachers but also with the end-user, the students. This has ensured not just the iconic status of this building but, even more importantly, its ability to function.

Including students

Eve Waldron, director of Eve Waldron Design, said: “It was great to include the students as well as the staff in design team meetings. The school has an inspirational head who was very involved – he tried out chairs and brought the students on board. I had never presented to a team of 17 year olds before and it was exciting to put myself and the project in front of a group who had never heard of this process before.

“I got a taste of what it would be like to be an ambassador of design. I think it is important to expose more people to the profession, especially students as the world needs better designers.”

Liquorice
The £8.7m building was designed by Bond Bryan architects and built by Bowmer and Kirkland Ltd. The building has been nicknamed the ‘liquorice allsorts’ school because the exterior elevations comprise of vertical timber panels repeated at random intervals and framed with subtle colours, visually akin to liquorice. The building will have a low environmental impact having been designed to achieve a BREEAM rating of Very Good.

Jeff Stibbons, director at Bond Bryan said: “This is a complex design that had to work within the constraints of a Conservation Area. Most gratifyingly, I have been approached by a number of pupils who, on learning that Bond Bryan designed their new building, have said they would now be interested in a career in architecture, simply because they find the building so inspiring.”

On budget
In the wake of all the spending cuts in schools it is inspiring that some investment is still going ahead and see how positive an impact a new building can have on students in a deprived area. Tight control was kept over spend, and the project came in on budget.

Environments can improve the performance of students at school. The new Sixth Form Centre shows how furniture, fixtures and equipment in schools can encourage more respectful, creative, aspirational and mature students.

About Phoenix High School
Phoenix High School is a successful multicultural school serving a diverse student population drawn from a range of social and economic backgrounds. Its head teacher, Sir William Atkinson, was appointed in 1995 and is credited with turning around the school. In 2008 Sir William was knighted for his services to ‘education and the community’. The school achieved specialist Science College status in 2005.

The first 130 students were accepted into Phoenix High School’s new Sixth Form Centre in September 2010. The new bespoke building to home the centre is just finished, ready for the next intake of students in September 2011, bringing the student population up to 260.

For more information
www.phoenixhighschool.org