Evaluation

AHMM, in collaboration with previous principal Alison Banks, have succeeded in creating a building that affirms the school’s ethos throughout. At its core is a celebration of the multi-cultural population of the students and the surrounding area. Visitors are made aware of this from the moment they walk in; from the large multi-lingual welcome sign in reception, to the scaled silhouettes of tall buildings from cities around the world lining glass partitions on the ground floor, and the national dishes of countries printed on the café walls.

The variety of learning spaces has accommodated the head teacher Alison Banks’ educational vision of a school that encourages different ways of learning, from private study to team work and collaboration. The central space allows for whole school activities and involvement with the community. Other spaces range from the multi-functional long room, the large lecture theatre in the green room and the studio and lab spaces to smaller homerooms with u-shaped desk arrangements. Breakout spaces provide quieter areas for individual or group study. This hierarchy of spaces allow for a personalised learning programme, whilst offering adaptability for the future.

The building is a new landmark with its distinctive green and yellow colour scheme, bold horizontal lines and night time illumination. The cheerful entrance opens straight onto the busy Harrow Road with clear views through the glass doors into the reception and main atrium. The use of glazing in the library and ICT suites mean that they are visible from the street adding to the feeling of openness and inclusion. This reflects the head teacher’s desire to encourage collaborative learning between the students and the community. The provision of a public sports centre in the academy sport building, public courts and the public footpath on the site further welcome the community into the buildings and its grounds.

What could have been a claustrophobic and depressing need to acoustically seal the building from the noise of the Harrow Road and West Way flyover, has helped to create a feeling of comfort and escape from its highly urbanised setting. Whilst the limited school grounds do not offer a wide variety of learning, social, sporting and recreational activities, the impressive panoramic views over west London from the “Sky Dining” room and the sixth form common room are inspiring and contribute to the element of delight in the building, appreciated by students and teachers alike.