ABSTRACT
Passmores School and Technology College, rated outstanding by Ofsted in 2008 and located in life-expired facilities in Harlow Essex, was prevented from improving further by virtue of the buildings and site it occupied. Brays Grove Community School and Specialist Arts College closed down in August 2008 due to decreasing pupil numbers over a number of years, and presented the perfect opportunity to relocate Passmores and re-brand it as an academy. The gentle curve of the entrance facade embraces the new civic space to the west and through the use of bold graphics the school announces itself at the heart of the community. The highest priority for the building was to provide an environment that excited, motivated and challenged its students. The project received unanimous planning approval and proceeded to construction very quickly because there was no tender period but simply a negotiated NEC partnering contract.
