In October 2005 Walters & Cohen won an OJEU competition run by Brent Council to design the new four-form-entry Wembley Primary School, one of the largest primary schools in the UK. It is built on the site of an existing three-form-entry primary school and represents an amalgamation of the existing infant and junior schools.
The design is arranged around two courtyards with a hall that opens onto the heart of the school, creating a very large space for school and community use. The heart also includes a cooking space for the children to use and furniture that can be used in flexible ways. The accommodation represents the child’s journey through the school, with very young children (nursery and reception) in the single-storey element, and the double-storey parts house years 1, 2 and 3 at ground floor level and years 4, 5 and 6 on the upper level.
Walters & Cohen was contract administrator and design team leader, assembling a team comprising structural and services engineers, quantity surveyor, landscape architect and planning supervisor. On our recommendation, Brent Council employed consultation expert Grace Comely to make sure the school and local community's opinions were heard and incorporated into the design.
