By
Nick Evans
Cavendish School in Eastbourne to become an ‘all through’ school
The concept developed with East Sussex County Council has received planning permission for the addition of a new primary school to an existing secondary school.
The full space compliment across the entire all through school has been reviewed by ECE to ensure that the remaining secondary and new early years and primary areas all combine to work with maximum efficiency and effectiveness. Working in close collaboration with the school we have achieved an arrangement which both provides the primary years with greater access to specialist teaching space and opportunities for vertical learning.
The Foundation Stages are to the front of the new building with strong internal links planned between reception and nursery. Key Stage 1 are to the rear of the ground floor with a large play area that spills out onto the existing playing fields. Key stage 2 will be on the first floor and will share play spaces with the Key Stage 1 on the ground floor.
All classrooms are accessible from the main circulation spine at ground and first floors revolving round the central library / learning zone, which is to be the hub around which the school day operates. Ground floor classrooms have external doors that open out directly onto play spaces.
The dining area within the secondary school is being refurbished and enlarged to be used by the whole school. This will become the heart of the new all-through school.
A special two storey link has been designed to provide a fully accessible circulation route between the new primary school and the existing adjacent secondary school already on the site.
