The internal reorganisation of the school provides a professional theatre space, new TV/audio studios and media editing suites, a new fitness suite, and improved design, technology, art and ICT classrooms.

A new inclusion area of EAL and SEN suites has flexible learning spaces, specialist facilities and a permanent and visiting staff base.

The existing circulation has been significantly improved with a new lift, replacement of stairs in the existing corridors with ramps and two new glazed, double-storey circulation links in the re-landscaped east and west courts.

The links reduce travel distances around the school. They also provide places for the display of the arts on the walls and along the animated brick base, with integral seating extending to the courtyard landscaping.

The creation of a high quality landscaped forecourt, free of vehicles and framed by the new performing arts and media wings, helps to create a sense of arrival to the Academy.

Through careful planning with the school, the development was built in phases to minimise disruption and omit the need for any temporary accommodation.

We were appointed directly by the School to produce proposals for works outside the Building Schools for the Future programme.

We designed two tuck shops to enliven the existing east and west tarmac playgrounds and to provide healthy food for pupils at break time.

The tuck shops were designed with a similar robust palette of materials employed elsewhere in the schools, including an engineering brick base and brightly coloured Trespa rain-screen panels.

The simple, tapered boxes come alive during break times when the front hatches are opened to provide shelter and to serve students refreshments.