St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Northampton. NN5

The design of St Mary’s Primary School extension is conceived as a clear and elegant architectural response, centred on a simple yet highly effective form. Classrooms are carefully oriented to enjoy open views across the playing field, fostering a strong visual connection to the outdoors, while a well-defined circulation core seamlessly links each teaching space to a generous open-plan breakout area, encouraging flexibility and collaboration.

Modern brick school building with large windows, adjacent to a red outdoor sports court under a cloudy sky.

At ground floor level, each classroom benefits from direct access to external play space, supporting both structured and informal learning. The reception classrooms are further enhanced with dedicated covered play areas, allowing year-round outdoor activity in a सुरक्षित and engaging environment. At the heart of the plan, a central shared space—positioned between the administrative offices—serves as a vibrant hub for group interaction, where students and tutors can come together to support social learning and collaborative engagement.

Above, a thoughtfully designed first-floor play deck provides valuable additional outdoor space, extending opportunities for play and learning beyond the ground level while maintaining a strong connection to the wider school environment.

The extension delivers ten new classrooms alongside high-quality breakout spaces, modern pupil facilities, and a fully equipped professional kitchen. Together, these additions enable St Mary’s Primary School to expand into a two-form entry institution, significantly enhancing both its capacity and the quality of its learning environment.

Children play and gather on a rooftop deck with yellow structures and wooden flooring under a cloudy sky.
Children in school uniforms play and sit on a spacious rooftop deck with yellow structures and wooden flooring under a cloudy sky.
Bright classroom with red carpet, small tables, chairs, toys, books, and children gathered around a teacher at the whiteboard.
Four children sit around a table in a classroom, while two others walk by outside behind a glass wall.
Bright classroom with yellow wall, tables and chairs, large windows, cabinets, and supplies on a counter.
A bright classroom with students seated at tables and one student walking; coats and bags hang on hooks by the wall.
A teacher stands at the front of a classroom while students at desks raise papers in the air, participating in an activity.
Two children in blue uniforms walk quickly down a modern stairwell with wooden railings and white walls, creating a motion blur.
A clean, white public restroom with three stall doors, two sinks, a mirror, and bright lighting.
Children’s restroom with colorful cartoon monster designs on stall doors and a row of white sinks with mirrors above.
Children sit at tables in a bright classroom, working and interacting, with a teacher standing near a whiteboard at the front.

Description: Extension to the existing school

Client: Northamptonshire County Council & LendLease

Contractor: Wildgoose

Area:1,150 sqm

Value: £2.1m

Status: complete 2016

RT Team: Richard Sharp, Charlotte Tamplin

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