St James the Great Primary School and Nursery provides a new vibrant educational facility for pupils and teachers. It creates a forward-looking, contemporary learning environment with high quality spaces that inspires the school’s pupils. The new school is sited upon the existing playing field within the existing school boundary, off Chapman Way in East Malling, near Maidstone. The school is located near the edge of Clare House Park which is situated within a Conservation Area, Area of Local Landscape Importance and Historic Parks + Gardens. To minimise impact upon surrounding areas the school is cut into the sites existing gradient.
Entrance to the school, past a secure reception and staff space, leads directly into the central shared ‘Learning Street’. This central internal ‘learning street’, which stretches out under an undulating timber roof punctured by skylights, is at the heart of the school and provides access to each of the school’s seven classrooms, as well as the school’s integrated nursery. The ‘learning street’ provides an environment that encourages self-learning, by combining ICT and library facilities. With areas for group learning it allows flexibility that will enable the school to cater to the changing demands of education and was a vision supported by both KCC, the BSF program and the schools head teacher.
This vibrant communal space is central to the schools operation and contains a dedicated SEN space as well as resource spaces. These areas are separated by low curving walls which define individual areas whilst maintaining an open, communal atmosphere. A long vista from the entrance area looks towards the ICT suite and library at the opposite end which in turn opens to a covered external reading terrace and playing field offering views out to Clare Park.
Each of the classrooms, from reception up to year six, is accessed directly from the learning street. The classrooms design integrates wet areas, reading spaces and teacher ‘pods’ which contain a workspace and storage for the teacher with cloakroom recesses beside containing the pupils coats and bags but visually not detracting from the overall room layout. All of the classrooms open to an external teaching deck to allow teaching to ‘spill out’ and to facilitate small group activities. By opening the classrooms directly to the outside, the surrounding landscape is brought into the building, providing well connected, external spaces that stimulate the school’s pupils. The nursery, which can be accessed both from the central street and from an independent external entrance, adds to the schools facilities by offering a secure part covered play areas with separate office, kitchen and laundry facilities.
Administration and staff rooms are located by the entrance and offer an elevated position that looks out over the hard play area and new playing field providing natural surveillance. The main entrance to the school is also overlooked by the main reception, head teacher’s office and staff room, ensuring a visual connection to secure the school. The dining and PE hall, located next to the reception area, offers changing rooms and group spaces for school use. The hall can be secured separately from the school and act as a self-contained unit such that it can provide for evening, weekend and holiday-time community
