The Red Maids’ School

Location
Bristol
Client
The Red Maids' School
Value
£1.6m
Completion
2014
Size
485 students

A quality learning environment

The Red Maids’ School is the oldest independent girls school in England. Situated in Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, it provides education for girls aged 11 to 18.

The school is situated on a four hectare parkland site comprising of mature trees, playing fields and a group of buildings ranging in style from Victorian to a contemporary sixth form building completed in 2012. The school have an impressive vision and plan, over the coming decade, to improve and upgrade their facilities inline with the educational needs of today.

Our work includes the refurbishment of the main building, replacing the Denmark Hall with a new multi-purpose hall and performance space, classrooms and external landscape between buildings. Stride Treglown architects, town planners and landscape teams have worked with the school and project managers CCM.

The main building, built around 1864, now includes a new visitors entrance and enhanced pupil and staff entrance. The provision of a new library/learning resource centre at first and second floor levels was formed by creating a new roof over the existing central courtyard void. There was also significant refurbishment works to the existing dining hall, servery and ancillary rooms to form a lighter and better equipped dining experience.

The ground floor spaces to the north west of the main building were reconfigured to provide WC facilities and better pupil queuing for dining. Associated landscape works were undertaken to the main entrance area as well as to the courtyard. The design ethos of each of the spaces undertakes a contemporary yet respectful approach to the buildings heritage. Popular children’s author Michael Morpurgo OBE opened the new library in October 2014.