James Allen’s Girls’ School

School Refurbishment Brief

JAGS invited Rap Interiors to tender for the refurbishment of the school’s sixth form centre. We were one of five companies JAGS contacted to tender for the work, which was to take place over the summer holidays.

After a successful tender process, we conducted workshops with the school’s stakeholders to firm up the brief and establish a hierarchy of priorities for the school’s refurbishment project. The stakeholders included sixth form staff members and students, both of which provided valuable insight to help inform our design decisions.

The top priorities for the sixth form centre refurbishment included the following:

• The creation of versatile and quiet workspaces for students.
• Design adaptations to create a calmer atmosphere and allow greater exposure to natural light.
• Kitchen upgrades to improve functionality and ease congestion in the area.
• Upgrades to the lecture theatre and common room – particularly in relation to technology. For example, the girls required charging points to use in the common room areas, so this was among the top priorities.
• The installation of a new locker system to replace the old model.
• The introduction of flexible furniture to allow the space to be reconfigured and support more activities.

Additionally, JAGS approached us to refurbish the school’s four art classrooms within the summer holiday deadline. While the timeline and scope were challenging, our project and design teams put together a plan to ensure the classrooms would be ready for the first day of term.

Our Solution

Entrance Hall

In the entrance hall, JAGS required a larger entrance mat to prevent mud spreading into the main sixth form area. The new product has helped to maintain a higher level of cleanliness while creating a warmer, more inviting atmosphere upon entry.

The matted area now also includes a hybrid locker and seating unit and a “blush pink” coloured archway. The seating offers students a place to sit when waiting to see the head of sixth form while the archway makes for a welcoming design feature.

To further enhance the entrance hall, we introduced a new visitor area that includes a striking wood slat feature wall. Other key features of this area include an inset TV, a three-seater sofa, upholstered coffee tables, visitor armchairs, and a bespoke planter to populate with biophilia.

We also installed new light oak-effect vinyl throughout in a chevron pattern. This gives the area a much-needed lift and enhances the overall aesthetics.

Through Room

The vinyl flooring leads down into the new, multifunctional “through room”, which was formerly the locker room. Our school interior designers advised turning this locker room into a multifunctional space to achieve the versatility requested in the brief.

The space, marked by a clean and modern aesthetic, includes two poseur tables with charging points, four soft corner seats, and coffee tables for collaboration. The space also contains bespoke lockers that we built into the walls to allow ample space for the new school furniture.

Common Rooms

Our interior designers continued the oak-effect flooring throughout much of the sixth form centre, including in the common rooms. Each common room is a mirror of each side, ensuring both year groups have the same facilities.

As mentioned, the school’s facilities team wanted the furniture to be flexible and functional. During the holidays, the common room is used by school orchestra groups for practicing and teachers holding extra-curricular classes. Therefore, it was important that the furniture could be moved easily and safely to create these ad-hoc spaces.

To enable this flexibility, we specified booths and storage solutions with castor wheels for ease of movement. The booths offer an ideal space for the girls to sit and do coursework, while the storage solutions include space for 30 pouffes that serve as additional seating options.

Nearby, we installed bespoke window seats with storage space below for bean bag chairs, a sectional modular sofa that can be re-arranged, and bleacher seating for auditorium-style classes. We also implemented a TV within a locker wall system to aid lessons.

Other key features of the common rooms include two and four person desks, a laptop station with acoustic privacy screens, a group table with stools, stationery stores, and mirrors (as requested by the students at the workshop stage). Additionally, we made use of existing pool and foosball tables to add an element of fun to the working environment.

Garden Rooms

Both common rooms have conservatories at their rear, but the school had not made the most of these in terms of design, functionality, and purpose. After discussions with the stakeholders, we decided to turn these into garden rooms as the school is well known for its science and biophilia.

Now, the garden rooms contain large corner modular sofas providing ample seating for more students to utilise. We also created two large bespoke planter troughs, which the school has populated with its own foliage.

For added versatility and choice, each garden room now includes three large geometric seating options. These can function as a one or two person seating option.

Kitchen

When discussing the kitchen requirements, the stakeholders said that the size of the space and volume of students led to congestion during break times. Therefore, they wanted us to optimise the area to function better and ease the overcrowding at busy times.

We started by introducing concrete-effect vinyl to help define where the kitchen area begins. This begins in the common room area and is slanted at an angle for aesthetic interest.

Within the kitchen area, we installed wall mounted drying racks and display bars to hang pots for cutlery and condiments. The purpose of the display bars is to minimize the use of drawers, which caused congestion in the space. By having cutlery and condiments within easy access, the students can now move in and out of the space more efficiently .

We also installed two hot taps to reduce the use of kettles, which were also causing overcrowding in the space. With instant hot water, the students can grab a hot drink in seconds and move into the breakout area.

Other key features of the space include new wall cladding for improved hygiene, a modern kitchen unit with integrated microwaves, and a toaster station which also helps to ease traffic flow.

Lecture Theatre

The lecture theatre had become very tired after years of use, so we started by removing the existing seats in order to restore them. Our furniture team then re-upholstered the backs and fold down seats with a moisture-resistant fabric in three colour gradients.

As improving the technology was a priority, we introduced a new full-height wall to support an AV presentation screen. We also installed new ceiling tiles, lighting, modern carpet tiles, and a set of doors with a large vision panel for safety purposes and compliance.

Art Classrooms

Like the lecture theatre, the art classrooms needed an overhaul, so we stripped out and upgraded many elements. These included flooring, perimeter worktops, ceiling tiles, lighting, and a sink.

Key to the functionality of the space is the new storage and furniture. For example, the new perimeter worktop includes and overhang to enable the girls to sit comfortably. We also supplied new stalls and workbenches, while some of the existing furniture was retained and repainted to unify and modernise the space.

In addition to some of the existing furniture, we restored three of the school’s sinks, which had become stained by dried paint after years of use. We brought in our specialist cleaning contractors to do this, and they came out looking like new. This was both economical and environmentally sustainable, which aligns with both Rap’s and JAGS’ values.

For decorative purposes, we also installed new display boards to the walls where the girls can pin two artworks near to each other. The artwork display is further enhanced by spotlights, which can be adjusted to face the walls to create an exhibition-style spectacle for open evenings.

Finally, we installed a large glass worktop in the print room upon request from JAGS. This required a lot of planning and preparation for safety purposes, but we were able to install a toughened glass surface for the girls to use when print making.

Are You Planning a School Refurbishment?

If you’re looking to refurbish your school or college, then Rap Interiors would love to help. Whether you’re making upgrades to your classrooms, reception area, auditorium, or canteen, our designers will guide you on solutions that will help staff and students alike.

To book a consultation, please call 0333 600 1234 or fill out the enquiry form below.