New Faraday school welcomes first pupils

The new cutting edge construction replaces a number of out dated 1970's buildings and is a flagship project for the regeneration of the estate, the largest social housing complex in Europe.

The main building  has striking brightly coloured panels which wrap the circular facade - and it is this circular element that gives the building a structural uniqueness.

A balcony extends around the exterior of the first floor level, which is wrapped in a basket created from vertical fins. Natural light makes its way into the central living room via a series of north facing roof lights set within a lattice of timber box beams.

Designed by Stirling prize winning architects Alsop Sparch, the new school provides nursery, primary school, adult education and community facilities in 3021 sqm (gross internal floor area) over two floors. What makes the design unique is its circular form which maximises space on a tight site, providing classroom accommodation on two floors based around an inspiring, top lit central space, called the "living room".

The new school will accommodate a current intake of around 350 pupils, aged 3 to 11 but has the capacity to accommodate up to 450 pupils.

The redevelopment of the school is part of a substantial commitment by Southwark to regeneration in the borough, using inspirational educational establishments as a key part of improvements for local communities.

Councillor Catherine McDonald, Southwark Council's cabinet member for education, said: "Southwark Council is committed to improving education in the borough and to do that, we are providing some of the best and most inspirational learning environments for the boroughs children and young people.

"Michael Faraday Community School already provides an outstanding education for local children, and this redevelopment will make it an even better place for our young children to learn and will benefit the wider community. Working closely with the architects, school and community representatives, we have created a contemporary, stylish and functional building that will be seen nationally as an exemplary model for community engagement, offering best practice at all levels."

Following an extensive consultation process with the head teacher, staff, pupils and Creation Trust who are partly funding the project, Alsop Sparch have created an innovative school design that is set to enhance teaching and learning.

Karen Fowler, head teacher, said: "We think our children deserve to have a beautiful building to enhance and support their learning - and that's what they've got here. I've always believed learning  is lifelong so that not only means supporting the children but engaging with parents too. Our new school offers children, parents and the community an opportunity to put lifelong learning into action."

Alsop Sparch has a long history working with the council. The practice has previously contributed to the borough's evolving, dynamic landscape through the completion of the Stirling prize winning Peckham library in 1999, developments in Peckham square and the award winning Palestra building opposite Southwark tube station.

Said Alsop Sparch project director Jonathan Leah: "It has been a privilidge to work with  Karen, her staff and pupils on the Faraday project and to once again work with Southwark Council and the community that lives and works in the borough.

"Hopefully we have challenged the perception of what a primary school should be like and made it a memorable experience for those that use it." 

Final works to the school grounds will now the school has moved into the new building, after which the old school buildings are to be demolished. The school grounds will be extensively landscaped providing hard and soft play areas together with growing gardens, natural habitat and a 'Dry River Bed' in the last phase of the project.