Harrogate Grammar School – North Yorkshire
Over the past 15 years, Bowman Riley has collaborated closely with Harrogate Grammar School to meet the growing demand for pupil places. This partnership has expanded the school’s facilities, enhanced the learning environment, and supported its continued academic excellence.
Working with the Red Kite Learning Trust and the school’s leadership team, we developed a phased expansion plan that aligned with the school’s educational goals, budget, and timelines.
The new buildings were integrated seamlessly with the campus, respecting the school’s 1930s architectural style while introducing modern, innovative elements that reflect its progressive ethos.
Key projects include:
Sixth Form Pavilion
We designed a £2 million Sixth Form Pavilion to replace temporary classrooms and provide purpose-built, world-class facilities to support students’ academic and career progression. The Pavilion consolidates all sixth-form facilities on one site, including well-equipped classrooms, independent study areas, collaborative spaces, social areas, and a cloister garden. The advanced science laboratories cater specifically to sixth-form students, and the Forum, a 300-seat lecture theatre, serves as a hub for academic events.
Science Building
We designed a new science building to replace the crumbling 1950s block. Funded with £1 million from the Education Funding Agency, the building was needed by September, just months after funding was secured. We proposed a modular design to meet the tight timeline, minimising disruption through off-site manufacturing. The striking new building, featuring a contemporary façade and entrance, blends with the existing 1930s structure, offering four new laboratories, a preparation room, and a link corridor to ease congestion in the busiest part of the school.
Atrium and Entrance
We designed a new building to connect the 1930s to a 1960s block, with three classrooms on the first floor and a large atrium below, forming the new entrance. The project means the school can increase the number of student places. The design infills the courtyard, reusing space within the footprint of the building with a new double-height central atrium providing flexible teaching and exhibition space, with three new teaching classrooms at the first-floor level. This has created naturally light-filled spaces with natural ventilation, creating a sustainable environment. The new spaces improve circulation and provide a new student-focused entrance. Previously, students, staff and visitors had to use the same narrow entrance. A key project driver was to improve connections throughout the school; therefore, as part of our designs, we reworked the existing floor levels to improve accessibility.
Key Challenges and Solutions
Throughout the partnership, Bowman Riley has faced several challenges, including expanding the school within the confines of a limited campus and minimising disruption to students and staff during construction. However, the architects approached these challenges with innovative solutions. By working in close collaboration with the school and local authorities, Bowman Riley was able to deliver projects on time and within budget, ensuring that the school could continue to operate smoothly during each phase of development.
The partnership between Bowman Riley and Harrogate Grammar School over the last 15 years has been a testament to the power of collaboration and strategic planning. Through careful consideration of both current needs and future growth, Bowman Riley has help Harrogate Grammar School expand its physical capacity while preserving the school’s commitment to academic excellence.