Five Islands School

Built on remote islands with ecological challenges, this £13m ‘through-school’ won awards for its sympathetic design and was opened by HM the Queen in 2011.

This new ‘through-school’ serves all ages from 3 to 16 years old, and all five of the inhabited islands. Construction of the £13m project, given the island location with its fragile fabric and ecology and no local sources of materials or labour, presented numerous challenges – strongly influencing construction methods, which included mainland pre-fabrication and modularisation.

The site is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Ramsar site and adjacent SSSI, and involved liaison with the Duchy of Cornwall’s architectural adviser as well as local Planning. Despite the constraints, a sympathetically scaled and styled design was achieved. The school was formally opened by HM the Queen in June 2011.

It won the Project of the Year (over £3m) category in the Michelmores / Western Morning News Commercial Property Awards and a commendation in the National Civic Trust Awards 2013.

Testimonial

“I have said on numerous occasions that the best decision we have taken on this project was bringing Grainge on board……and would whole-heartedly recommend them.”

Bryce Wilby, Headteacher.