The project vision was to transform these original School buildings into an inspiring and nurturing learning environment for a contemporary primary school.

The two re-modelled Edwardian school buildings originally designed by H.Carter Pegg and the Portland Road School (multi -storey), built in 1902 and the Portland Road Junior School (single storey) built in 1906 are important to the local built heritage and as such are locally listed, adding complexities and sensitivities in the process for this project. The school now accommodates a 2-form entry primary school with a 38-place nursery. The buildings had most recently been in use for Adult Education and they were in need of complete refurbishment and a transformative approach to providing contemporary and suitable learning environments for young children.

We opened up the large spaces to utilise as halls and shared areas, removing non-original internal partitions and other detracting additions. Internal layouts were altered to provide contemporary classroom spaces, including learning break-out spaces for the younger pupils.

All the rooms were surveyed with care and any original feature that could be kept and enhanced was prioritised. The roof and windows were replaced with double glazed timber sashes and high thermal performance roofing to match the original, existing roof tiles were re-used.

The carefully considered interventions show the school is still fit for purpose for a contemporary school over a hundred years later.

"Ever since the academy opened last year we’ve been working hard to embed real and lasting change across the life of the school, and this new building is symbolic of the new, bright future that awaits us." Diana Morgan, Principal Oasis Academy Ryelands.