Sinfin Community School in Derby, United Kingdom

July 19, 2010 Category: Education, Public Buildings

Sinfin Community School, designed by Sheffield architects Race Cottam Associates, located in Derby, United Kingdom opened in September and six months on teachers are praising the effect the school’s innovative design has had on its pupils’ learning.

Large open spaces, well lit internal areas and good acoustics have all generated an environment where teachers say pupil’s learning and behaviour has improved and where education, building and design experts are now going to see the tangible effects the UK Government’s multi-billion pound Building Schools for the Future Programme can have on education.

Key design features at the 1000-pupil, £21 million school include a large atrium at the heart of the school, which has created an inspiring entrance for visitors and pupils, and unisex and open-plan toilets, which have deterred bullying.

Now school leaders hope the site will become a national example for best practice in educational design.

The school in Sinfin, Derby is also believed to be one of the greenest in the region, with environmental features including a bio-mass boiler, wind turbine, grey water recycling, natural ventilation, a large pond and wildlife habitats. Race Cottam’s dedicated team was recently appointed to deliver four schools in Bradford as part of the government’s £20 billion Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

Sinfin Community School Design Architechture Plan