Schools that children want to be in

Scale: a building a child can understand

Young children feel small in a large building. We keep primary schools low and arranged in simple parts. At The Orchard School, classrooms sit in single-storey wings around a central orchard garden, so every child can see where they are, find their way and walk straight outside. Simple pitched roofs and warm brick and timber give a village scale that feels like a home and not an institution.

Classrooms that open outwards

The classroom is the school's main room. We give it:

• Daylight and a view. Large glazed doors and windows to a garden or court.
• A covered terrace. A sheltered outdoor space beside each classroom, for lessons, play and getting wet shoes off.
• Good acoustics. Soft surfaces and a calm room make it easier to hear and to concentrate.
• Places to be small. A reading corner, a window seat, a quiet alcove.
• Storage that is within reach. Low cupboards that children can use themselves.

We keep primary schools low and arranged in simple parts.

Garden and woodland as classrooms

Learning does not stop at the door. The orchard, a meadow, a growing area, a forest shelter and a hard play area all offer different kinds of learning and play. Children who spend time outdoors are healthier and often calmer when they return, and the garden changes with the seasons, which is a lesson in itself. See also Courtyards.

The hall: a place for everyone

A hall brings the school together, for assemblies, performances, meals and sport. At The Orchard School it is a taller volume of brick and timber with exposed timber frames, and it stands beside the entrance so that it can be used by the community too.

Safe, calm and easy to use

A school must be safe without feeling like a prison. A secure entrance with a staffed reception, supervised play areas, clear sight lines, level access everywhere and simple routes create a feeling of care. These requirements are strict and differ by country, and every real school needs specialist advice on safeguarding, fire, acoustics and access.

Made to last, made to change

Schools are used hard and for a long time. We choose robust materials, exposed structures that need little finishing, and flexible rooms that can change use as teaching changes.

What children notice

Children notice light, colour, texture and whether they are trusted with space. A school that gives them real materials, a garden, rooms with character and a sense that the building was made for them tells them they matter.

The Orchard School is a concept design, and its images are visualisations (see our Disclaimers). We also design schools, universities and colleges for other age groups; see Education and Designing the Museion Institute.

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