Winner – Education Estates ‘Refurbishment of the Year’ 2021

Shortlisted – RIBA London London Award 2022

The development of the Forest Gate School involved the construction of 2,815m2 new build construction (including new studio space) and 837m2 reconstruction/refurbishment of internal spaces. All the works were undertaken on a highly restricted school campus without any adverse impact upon teaching and learning.

The 2FE school expansion design was developed in discussion with the school and representatives of the London Borough of Newham. The main elements of the brief and the design drivers can be summarised as:

• Expand the school from 7FE to 9FE (1050 students to 1350) and create an internal ‘heart’ space
• Provide high quality teaching accommodation for the expanded school to build on it’s academic success, including the refurbishment of existing classrooms into drama and dance facilities
• Improve internal circulation and accessibility within the existing building
• Provide additional and enhance existing student external amenity area
• Improve connectivity between the school sites

On the ground floor the new double height dining hall space has natural light from a large courtyard roof light and windows onto Forest Street. This space forms a new ‘heart space’ for the school at the ground floor level. Dining capacity and experience was greatly improved with additional serving capacity provided from a new mobile food kiosk within the space. As well as dining, this hall is used for practice exams and has flexible furniture to enable this to happen on a daily basis. The other new teaching spaces at this level include a Food Tech classroom (well located near the school kitchen), and a new drama studio created within an existing windowless classroom.

A detailed construction management plan was put together to deal with the logistics and management of the site to ensure that programme was maintained without disruption to the life of the school. The construction works within the school were delivered safely and on time without disruption to the operations of the school or the day to day life of the nearby residents. 

“Neilcott have a solutions oriented, non-confrontational approach – working together to overcome challenges (no matter how they have arisen) and so ensuring client satisfaction. I cannot recommend Neilcott’s effort, professionalism and commitment highly enough.”                                                                                                                            Liam Keaveney – Head of Capital Commissioning