The project is an extensive retrofit and refurbishment of an existing 1960s school building, in which RAAC concrete panels were found in 2024. The removal of the roof has enabled the refurbishment of the school to deal with other historic issues. The spalling concrete, poorly performing windows, overheating through solar gain through the large areas of south-facing windows, lack of daylight into the deep plan, and poor thermal performance, are all being addressed.

Works include a green roof with PV panels, an Air Source Heat Pump and new services, including MVHR, new timber and aluminium glazing, external non-combustible insulation, fibre-cement cladding and internal wall lining. Floors will be finished in zero carbon linoleum flooring.

It is important for the school to have a new flagship building which was representative of the ethos and values of the school. The sense of nature and nurture is made visible in the abstracted falling leaf pattern on the prominent elevations. This is consistent with the wider agenda that is being pursued in school buildings across London to both lower energy use and make evident a more responsive and responsible attitude towards climate change.

There are a large number of post-war school buildings which have similar issues and in which thermal comfort is challenging to maintain in both hotter and cooler temperatures. This project offers an example of one way in which these challenges can be addressed, while retaining an existing structure.