When HLM Architects set out to design a new school building for Pencoedtre High School in Barry, Wales, we wanted to deliver a unique educational establishment that not only helps pupils excel but also benefits the wider community. Built by Bouygues UK and designed by HLM’s Cardiff studio over the course of two years –throughout the pandemic – the school was open in time for students to enjoy the new building from the start of this year. Pencoedtre High School replaces the 1970s Bryn Hafren Comprehensive School, which was in a state of disrepair and no longer fit for purpose. The project formed part of a £34.7m investment into the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, a long-term strategic investment in schools and colleges across Wales developed by the Welsh Local Government Association and the Vale of Glamorgan Council. The school is also part of the Council’s Sustainable Communities for Learning programme, which aims to drive social, economic and environmental benefits for schools and local communities. Designed with the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act (Wales) goals at the forefront, the new school facilitates a larger range of different learning requirements and intertwines educational, social and cultural environments. It is intended to be a catalyst for wider regeneration, inspiring the next generation of learners in one of the Vale of Glamorgan’s most socially and economically deprived areas. We maintained a strong focus on involving the community throughout the project, as student ambassadors worked with the contractors to give pupils exclusive access to the site during construction, enabling them to learn about different stages of the build. A highlight of the topping out ceremony was several of the student ambassadors signing the building’s main beam.

Pencoedtre High school is a stand-out example of an educational environment for the 21st century, which not only regenerates the locality but also provides a new modern setting that encourages pupils to thrive. The new school caters for up to 1,100 students, including sixth form, with an additional learning needs unit. We designed the building’s layout to feel as inclusive, airy and appealing as possible – a space where pupils want to be and one that inspires creativity and learning. Two three-storey teaching wings are connected by wide corridors and large windows to increase ventilation, positioned around a central ‘heart space’ featuring an open plan dining hall, main hall and terraced courtyard. The courtyard provides a space for outdoor performances, embracing the level changes with the installation of viewing areas and an upper terrace for external dining. Each wing consists of ICT suites, performance spaces and a learning and wellbeing centre, further complemented by a range of state-of-the-art music studios, science labs and a fitness suite. The building is nestled among a variety of outdoor spaces, allowing the design and technology rooms on the ground floor scope for future expansion. We saw an opportunity to create a double-height sports hall between the ground and lower ground levels, linking it directly to the external sporting facilities that include an all-weather floodlit hockey pitch, grass rugby and football pitches. The huge sports hall will also be open to the local community for a multitude of uses outside school hours. Our overarching ambition was to bring in greater flexibility, creating high-quality, multi-functional areas that can be used to enhance learning or to offer a space for socialising and relaxing. These new facilities will provide students with different learning requirements the resources they need to excel academically while extending support to the local community by acting as a central hub for residents.

It is a welcoming space for wider communities and families to come together and enjoy, providing much needed social cohesion now and for future generations and helping to positively impact the surrounding area for years to come. The school is situated on a constrained site across a number of levels, adding an extra layer of complexity when approaching the design. Our team was challenged with maximising the space to its fullest advantage to make use of and enhance the landscape in the most sustainable way. The ecological diversity of the site was enriched through the provision of new natural habitats including areas of swales, orchard and native planting. Bird and bat bricks provide spaces within the void of the external wall, fronted by bricks, with small openings for wildlife to enter. Meanwhile, food growing areas allow food technology, science and other lessons to be taught outside and also offer alternative, calming activities for pupils with additional learning needs. The external facade was designed to reference and celebrate the area’s rich industrial heritage. The interior design concept was also inspired by the local area, with the colour palette chosen to connect the interior with its surrounding environment and provide a sense of place. We opted for robust materials, including red brickwork and grey panelling, which not only ensure longevity but also make the building visually striking. Through the careful selection of building fabric materials and insulation products, the project team reached the U-values and building performance targets that we set out to achieve. As a result, the new school attained BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and EPC ‘A’ ratings. Inside the school, calming greens contrasted with maroon, orange and yellow help connect the interior design with the new branding as well as the three distinct academic houses. Six iconic landmarks of Barry were selected and developed into simplified graphic illustrations, creating a strong visual feature wall in the main entrance of the school, which also serves a wayfinding purpose for building users. This project has already been garnering recognition, and was recently shortlisted for the ‘Digital Construction’ and ‘Building of the Year’ categories in the Constructing Excellence in Wales Awards. Work on site continues with the demolition of the old school and construction of the external sporting facilities, and full completion is expected in February 2023.

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