PTE designed this new infant and junior school, nursery and landscaped playground for St Thomas’ Church of England Primary School, North Kensington. The scheme includes 69 apartments in two four-storey blocks built above the school.

The existing St Thomas’ school was built as a single storey structure in 1971, but the buildings fall far short of modern standards and the school’s governors had been trying to raise capital for some time to build a new school.

The residential accommodation financed over 80% of the cost of rebuilding of St Thomas’ from income generated by the sale and rental of the one, two, three and four bedroom apartments built above the school.

The apartments have their own exclusive entrance since security of the school site is of paramount importance.

The new school provides increased classroom space which opens onto a landscaped playspace and garden. An external stair leads up to a sculptured metallic assembly hall which sits like a jewel between the two residential wings and marks the principal entrance. This central block housing hall, studio, foyer and community room is designed so that it can be used by the community out of school hours.