Socially inclusive
In its first year, Hollybush saw a 15 per cent increase in pupil numbers and an attendance rate of 97.3 per cent. The school also quickly established a central role in the local community. A branch of the West Leeds Family Learning Centre has opened on the site, offering short courses and information on training and job opportunities. The extended childcare facilities mean that more parents have been able to take up employment, while the Specialist Inclusive Learning Centre provides valuable support for families with disabled children.
The school's spacious entrance lobby
“State-of-the-art, inclusive facilities like these can help our children, young people and their families to be happy, healthy, safe and successful.”
Chris Edwards, Chief Executive of Education Leeds.
Eco-friendly design
The school incorporates a wide range of environmentally-friendly materials and design features. The layout of the building makes good use of natural light, while a three-metre overhanging roof provides shelter in wet weather and acts as an extension of the classrooms during warm weather. An automated system monitors and adjusts the temperature levels in each classroom to ensure optimum conditions for teaching.
“Every thought has gone into planning for the future of the school,” says Peter Bell, Head Teacher at Hollybush. “We will see reduced costs, especially in heating. Paper and glass recycling has also helped reduce costs.”
The school seen from above
Built in the shape of a serpentine, with an aluminium roof and landscaped gardens, Hollybush has become an eye-catching local landmark. Although graffiti and vandalism were frequent problems at the previous site, Hollybush has been largely unaffected. This reflects the high degree of respect that the pupils and the wider community have for the building.
Topics associated with this project
Education, Planning, School, Training