Head Teacher Charles Hardingham, commissioned the Alfresco P7000+ to accommodate increasing numbers at the 182 pupil school, where places are expected to rise significantly as part of the School’s Organisational Review. The school’s vision was to create a light and airy octagonal building with panoramic views to all aspects of the grounds. The new building was designed as an ‘enrichment room’, where a large number of children could benefit from free space to enjoy music, drama and dance as well as a quiet and peaceful environment to learn. The overall design therefore had to be light and spacious and ensure adequate provision of acoustic, thermal and aesthetic properties, as required by the SOR Project Mandate.
Charles Hardingham, Head Teacher at Coupals Primary School is justifiably enthusiastic about the school’s new facility; one that started from a few inspired drawings and a personal wish list. ‘Our school motto is “learning with enjoyment”,’ explained Mr Hardingham. ‘I wanted a space for enrichment; one that children of all abilities could use for therapeutic stories, drama, music, assemblies and for teachers to enjoy too. I also wanted a building that reflected a multicultural theme and so I sketched something that looked like a nomadic tent with huge cushions where children could relax and learn. I couldn’t believe it when a week later a leaflet arrived from Alfresco Rooms showing a design almost identical to my drawings.’ ‘We had already worked with Alfresco’s sister company Able Canopies, the canopy experts who had designed and installed our walkway canopies so I knew and trusted their design knowledge and the quality of their workmanship.’
You only have to stand inside our new Alfresco building to enjoy light, space and views from every angle and we are sure that it will improve the enrichment of our children’s learning and creative development”
‘We had an Ofsted inspection last week and the inspectors enthused about the new facility, reporting that the school has “Worked hard to enhance their environment and create something that was, uplifting, enjoyable and sparkling”,’ said Mr Hardingham.
‘At Coupals Primary School we believe that learning shouldn’t be confined and Able Canopies had already helped us with a series of wonderful outdoor learning spaces. You only have to stand inside our new Alfresco building to enjoy light, space and views from every angle and we are sure that it will improve the enrichment of our children’s learning and creative development. The whole Alfresco Room is a very special place for the children to be.’
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www.alfrescorooms.co.uk/coupals_primary_school.htm
