Woodside Primary School

Name: One Darnley Road
Price range: $

Hertfordshire, UK

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project overview

A nature-led, sustainable school with inclusivity at the heart

Woodside Primary School is a new, single storey primary school that will provide children with calm, light-filled spaces to learn and grow. It is one of five pioneering GenZero national pathfinder schools from the Department for Education, designed to support low carbon, healthy learning environments.

We designed the new school to comfortably welcome 210 primary pupils, with a 30 place nursery alongside. This gives the school the right mix of learning spaces from nursery through to Year 6, with room for play, discovery and the everyday moments that build confidence.

We also shaped the plan around nature, keeping mature trees where we can and creating outdoor learning spaces that feel like a natural part of the school day.

To make the school easy to use and easy to run, we organised it into three clear, single storey blocks linked by a covered walkway. This simple layout helps people find their way instinctively and creates a strong heart to the school, with a central courtyard that supports gathering, outdoor dining and social time. It keeps classrooms settled for learning, while giving the school flexible spaces for assemblies and shared activities.

We placed the hall at the front so it can work as a community space outside school hours, with its own entrance. The hall includes kitchen and building services space, supporting smooth day-to-day operation without taking learning space away from children. Throughout, we have designed access to feel welcoming and inclusive, with clear entrances and easy movement around the school for everyone.

We wanted the school to feel warm, calm and easy to understand from the first step inside. By shaping it around a shared heart space and nature-rich outdoor areas, we’ve created a place where children can learn and play."

Gary Overton

Project Director, Bristol

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design concept

Shaped for inclusive access and everyday school life

We designed inclusive access into the everyday flow of the school, so children, families and visitors can move around comfortably and confidently. Our design also prioritises natural light and views to green spaces, helping classrooms feel calm, healthy and supportive for learning.

We kept mature trees wherever possible, including the established tree line along Jones Road. This protects the site’s character and gives children shade, shelter and a stronger connection to nature.

We shaped the school around the trees and outdoor learning spaces, so nature is always close by. It helps the building feel settled, welcoming and easy to understand."

Kim Lodge

Project Lead, London

sustainability

GenZero ambition, delivered in a practical way

We aligned our design with the Department for Education’s GenZero approach, focusing on comfort, performance and lower running costs over the life of the building.

We combined a fabric-first approach with on-site renewable energy, including solar photovoltaics (PV). This supports the project’s ambition to achieve net zero carbon in operation.

We also integrated rain gardens and sustainable drainage to manage surface water naturally. These features bring added benefits too, creating richer habitats and giving children visible, real-world learning moments in the landscape around them.

Team