UWE Bristol’s Master of Architecture (MArch) students and local primary school St Michael’s CofE in Stoke Gifford have recently collaborated on an ‘Exploratory Design Studio’ community project to develop concept designs for a school building’s expansion.
Supported by Ann de Graft-Johnson, students Elliot Burningham, Craig Harding, Shahd Jabr, Huw Lansdowne, Charlotte Ongley and Daniel Pinto Rodrigues produced a series of designs for a new building to replace the school’s ageing ‘H-block’ and further expansion plans to include an onsite nursery and dedicated SEND facility.
What makes this project stand out is the depth of collaboration. Through consultation with staff and parents, and an engaging workshop with the school’s student council, they gathered insights from the people who know the site best. Pupils shared what excites them about learning spaces, while staff highlighted the practical needs of a growing school community. These voices became the backbone of the design process.
The resulting concepts place inclusion, sustainability and community at the forefront. Students explored ways to strengthen the school’s SEND provision, from acoustically considerate learning areas to dedicated spaces for extra provision sessions. Outdoor learning also played a central role, with ideas inspired by the forest school approach and a focus on creating more opportunities for children to learn and play outside. Several proposals also considered how the school could host community events more effectively, ensuring that new spaces feel welcoming and adaptable.
Pete Barnard, Headteacher of St Michael’s CofE School, described the students’ work with real enthusiasm:
“We were blown away by their professionalism and dedication to getting the designs right for all members of our school community. Their attention to detail and engagement of all stakeholders was exceptional, and our children have loved looking through the designs and choosing their favourites!”
Kay Confait, Pre-Award Coordinator at UWE Bristol, said:
“As a parent with children at St Michael’s Primary School, I have spent the last few years facilitating community outreach opportunities between the school and UWE. For this project our goal was to incorporate UWE architecture design expertise to develop concepts for new learning spaces, with a special emphasis on making the environments inclusive and adaptable for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
It was an incredible opportunity to bring MArch students on board. Over the last six months, it has been a true privilege to guide the collaboration from the initial briefing sessions and pupil engagement workshops to the final presentation of their outstanding concept designs.”
With the concept designs now complete, the school plans to present them to a local MP as part of its wider expansion ambitions.
The work will also be showcased during UWE Bristol’s annual Degree Show, ‘Showcase’. The Master of Architecture (M-Arch) cohort’s exhibition will be available for the public to view between Friday 7 June to Wednesday 10 June on Frenchay Campus (with the exception of Monday 8 June).
This partnership demonstrates the power of connecting academic learning with real‑world challenges. For the MArch students, it offered hands‑on experience in community‑engaged design. For St Michael’s, it provided a fresh, imaginative vision of what its growing school could become.