Broadoak Primary School

Broadoak Primary School in Ashton-Under-Lyne, contacted us in the summer of 2015 to work with them to help design and furnish the interior of their new purpose built school.

We started the process with a series of consultations, in which we looked at the building design and discussed the client’s ‘wish list’, with both parties bringing innovative ideas to the table.

The project involved the design and furnishing of classrooms, LRC and ICT Suites, a Nursery and Reception area, staff support areas and staffroom. Our brief was to provide a vibrant, inspirational and flexible space that would develop the pupils love for learning.

Designing each classroom to encourage interaction and flexibility and the ability to accommodate a variety of teaching styles was key to the success of this project. To give a contemporary look and feel to the rooms we incorporated brightly coloured seating with contrasting white tables. Two group study rooms were introduced, with storage facilities integrated into the seating and custom built desking to maximise the space available.

Designed for group or individual study, or alternatively somewhere students can simply sit and read; bespoke amphitheatre style soft seating was added on the ground floor to create a stunning LRC Suite. Colours were selected to bring a vibrant, inspiring feel to this area.

The school was looking for something unique for their ICT suite; an innovative furniture design seats the children comfortably yet also allows the teaching staff to circulate around the room with ease.

In a break from the ‘typical classroom’ set-up the Reception and Nursery area is a mix of bespoke and standard products. The custom built malleable arts and crafts islands and curved storage units included in the room can be moved around to create different layouts, meeting the brief for a truly flexible space. The perimeter of this space houses ‘quiet areas’, with clusters of tables and chairs for group work. Staff have full visibility of these spaces thanks to the funky wall cut-outs and open doorways. Complimentary colours were selected throughout to deliver a visually stimulating room.

Additional features include the design and furnishing of the head’s and support offices, along with a professional feel meeting room and a comfortable seating plan to the staffroom. As much time and effort from both parties went into designing the support areas as the teaching environment, demonstrating that the staff at this school are greatly valued.