On a site surrounded on four sides by residences and another school, and with the only access a narrow private road, we have been working on the phased transformation and extension of the buildings at Fitzjohns Primary School. The complex programme was designed to cause minimum disruption to the school, which has stayed open throughout.

The existing buildings provided insufficient space for the school to function effectively. Central to our solution to this was the refurbishment of the original Victorian hall, returning it to its former use. Internal partitions, added to make classrooms, have been removed and the glorious original timber framing restored. A new feature ramp makes the hall fully accessible.

To expand the teaching accommodation, we have designed timber-clad classrooms in pods that hug the boundaries of the site. They are linked to the existing buildings by a lightweight carefully detailed canopy that unifies the spaces around the central playground and its mature trees. The previous school hall has been newly converted to a nursery class with a dedicated play area carved out of the steep slope of the site.

Winner — British Council for School Environments Award 2008 — best refurbishment/remodel, primary/secondary.