A major new build, extension and refurbishment project has now been completed at Walton Priory Middle School in Stone, as part of a design & build project carried out by Fords of Blythe Bridge.
The striking architectural design with its bold use of colour and fully glazed front façade creates a strong first impression on visitors arriving at the school.
The school is now benefiting from an additional four classrooms, a new school entrance & reception area, additional office space and externally a new car park and landscaping.
As a result of the construction works, the school is able to expand from its current 4-form entry to a 5-form entry over the course of the next two academic years, providing much-needed additional school places generated as a result of significant residential development within the town of Stone.
The design of the building blends old with new. It combines a brick finish matched to the original school buildings together with more modern elements including full-height glazing to the curtain-walled front façade and a striking use of colour with its bright yellow render panelled arch and roof – designed to create a bold first impression and also reflect the school colours, emblem & uniform. In addition, the use of Western Red Cedar cladding adds further architectural interest and is a nod to the green surroundings of the school site.
Internally, construction works have provided the school with four new classrooms, a new main front entrance and reception lobby, staff office and administration areas and new staff, pupil and accessible WCs.
External works included the creation of a new car park for staff and visitors, improved pedestrian access to the school, and the creation of a stepped Gabion stone retaining wall where the existing embankment was cut back to enable the extension to be built. Soft landscaping works including the planting of new trees and hedgerows have also been carried out to complete the overall landscape design.
Delivered on budget and in time for the start of the new academic year, the construction works carried out by Fords of Blythe Bridge have made a tremendous improvement to the school, who are delighted with the new facilities they now have in place.
The new facilities give the school the space & ability to maintain the spatial relationships within year groups which is so important for effective teaching and supervision, to accommodate increasing pupil numbers from the local area, and to provide a striking, strong and welcoming first impression for anyone coming to the school.
