Raines Foundation School Project Description

Raines Foundation School is a mixed mainstream secondary education Church of England Voluntary Aided School (Est. 1719). The Authority's brief consists of provision of a new four storey teaching block on the site to complement the refurbishment of the existing Victorian Building, to include:

• Improved accessibility and security.
• Provision of a safe, attractive and stimulating environment designed to promote a range of innovative and creative teaching and learning styles.The facilities should help build community cohesion and encourage personal development, civic responsibility and parental involvement in childrens' education.
• Provision of flexible vocational spaces promoting community inclusion.
• Rationalisation of departmental areas based on sensible faculty adjacencies and control flow around the building through considered circulation strategies.
• Create a new communal ‘heart’ for the school.
• Provision of a purpose built Chapel/Community Room to reflect the ethos of the school.
• Improved SEN facilities tailored to small group sessions and personalised learning.
• Address accessibility/DDA compliancy issues.
• Improve external play space including a landscaped courtyard and covered areas.
• Provide a new Sports Hall and changing facilities to improve the student/community provision and promote health and wellbeing.
• Provide an educational and recreational ‘Science Garden’ on the Sports Hall roof. External areas to be landscaped to encourage teaching and social activities.

Due to the location and status of the Upper School elements, which sites a Grade II Listed building within the Victoria Park Conservation Area, the work to be undertaken required specialist input from English Heritage, the Tower Hamlets Planning Team and the Authority Conservation Officer. BYUK employed an Historic Buildings Consultant to undertake a Heritage Statement to inform the design process and ensure that the scheme was sensitive to its context and surroundings.

The Grade II listed school derives principal interest from its front facade and internal detailing. It is a high quality piece of Victorian architecture with a strong presence in the area. The conservation area is predominantly residential with terraces in yellow stock brick. Approach Road is particularly wide, with mature trees providing a grand approach to the park.

The proposals required the following significant elements to be carefully considered:

(i) Internal alterations to the listed building

(ii) Partial demolition of a listed building

(iii) Demolition within a conservation area

(iv) New build within a conservation area