Frome Valley School
A new primary school for the town of Crossways relocates a First school from the neighbouring village of Owermoigne, and is designed for future expansion in three phases from an initial 1 Form Entry, to 2 FE and ultimately, to a full primary school. At each stage, the building retains coherence by virtue of the central courtyard – a play space and a garden – that provides a sanctuary for the children and a sense of identity for the school. There are six main elements expressed as simple cedar clad boxes with sweeping curved roofs to the classrooms, arranged around the central courtyard within a rendered wall enclosure. The school, surrounded by suburban housing, claims a civic presence by means of a tall bell tower. The design has been produced in association with Prof. Sir Colin Stansfield Smith.
