Tyneview Primary School is a mid-size primary school of circa 280 pupils situated in Walker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, an area which has suffered from the recent economic downturn reflected by the fact that 60% of the children receive free school meals. The school works tirelessly to engage with the community, link with local businesses and provide new inspiration and opportunities for its pupils. This is exemplified by the school’s Primary Inspiration through Enterprise (PIE) scheme which resulted in a recent visit from Princess Eugenie to recognise the school’s outstanding work.
In June 2015, Northpoint Architects were approached by head teacher, Steve Gittins, who set them the challenge of transforming a corner of the school into an inspiring ‘Reading Pod’. This would need to be a flexible space to inspire the pupils to engage with reading and enrich a corner of the school’s tired library area.
Mr. Gittins describes the initial motivation for the project;
“As Head, my main goal is to provide an environment that is going to stimulate and encourage children … within my development plan I had a potential project to design and build a reading pod. The main intention was to create a very different learning space; one in which children could relax, reflect, discuss and create.”
The key client requirements were as follows:
- Create an enjoyable and stimulating reading environment to promote reading and books within the school;
- Include areas to sit, play, learn and read;
- The space was to be flexible to accommodate small group activities as well as individual and shared reading;
- All age groups within the school to be catered for.
Northpoint Architects were established as an RIBA Chartered Practice in 2014, evolving from the Robertson Simpson Group, a multi-disciplinary property consultancy firm based in the North East of England. Building on substantial experience within the education sector, directors Joe Moore and Adam Graham were aware of the specific constraints involved with working on school projects including maximising the potential of limited budgets and managing construction phases within holiday periods, at the same time as creating inspiring, durable spaces.
