St James School

Squire and Partners won a competition, and consequently planning permission, to design a new sixth form facility for St James Senior Girls’ School in West London, providing an exemplary learning environment which facilitates a transition between secondary school and life as a young adult.

Designs provide bespoke teaching rooms based on small learning groups, assembly halls and social spaces for 100 pupils in a single building overlooking Marcus Garvey Park. The development is designed as a village cluster articulated with a series of distinct volumes for different activities, gathered around a unifying space at the centre of the plan.

In response to the local building vernacular of grand roof expressions, the roof profiles articulate each element of the village cluster with a clay-tiled roof lantern. Glazed rooflights top each lantern, drawing natural light into every part of the building. Taking reference from the local palette, brick is used as the primary material, with white stone detailing and recessed full height slot windows offering views across the park towards the main school building.