Blue Coats Infant School



“I would certainly use Gale & Snowden again. You listened and responded”

Mary Pearson, Head Teacher


“Overall a very good experience with a delightful outcome”

Fiona Colamarino, Devon County Council

The Infant School is part of the wider Torrington Vision Project which has been developed by Torrington Community over several years.  It is a one-stop-shop for information, advice, care and education, based around the Junior School.  The elements of this project are the relocation of the Infant School to the Junior School site, the Early Years Excellence Centre, the provision of new community facilities known as the Torrington Family Project and the upgrading of the existing Junior School.

Project aims:

  • To be an exemplar education facility for the community of Great Torrington
  • To be of sustainable construction
  • To enhance the facilities of Great Torrington Junior School
  • To connect with other elements of the Torrington Vision i.e. the Early Years Centre, the Family Project and the Junior School

Specific Features:

  • A partnership between related local organisations aiming to be responsive to locally identified needs and provide a wider vision for the development of care and education for Great Torrington
  • Outreach and centre-based work, with drop-in advice, support and training; high-quality multi-disciplinary mobile provision supporting pre-schools and communities where no pre-school exists
  • Seeking to maximise the potential of the natural environment, including the use of common land and the school environment to promote the outdoors for learning and exploratory play

The design makes use of the sloping aspect of the site creating a split-level building.  The younger children are on the ground floor and have direct access to outside play areas, with KS1 children on the first floor having access to outside play spaces on the balconies.

There is a generously sized entrance canopy that has a glazed roof, offering a well-ventilated multifunctional space giving it an outside feel.  It includes the reception pod which is the single point of access and control for the building.  This space is also used for socialising, meetings and as an overspill from the community rooms and the IT cafe.

  • Building
    School
  • Location
    Torrington
  • Client
    Devon County Council

Related Links

Passivhaus

At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga.

Renewable Energy

At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga.

Research

At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga.