Bentworth Primary School, White City

The Bentworth Primary School, located in White City, has about 240 pupils. They have experienced difficulties finding enough space for all of them. The amount of space has a great impact on the quality of education, and the pupils’ excitement for learning. To take advantage of what was available, we decided to target the empty caretaker’s house for a makeover.

The Plan

After meeting with the school staff and discussing their needs, it was decided to turn the house into a place to learn life skills, an extra staff area and a resource for parents and the community.

The house has two stories, with more room on the ground floor for classroom areas. The ground floor was transformed into a cooking classroom, equipped with a kitchen and appropriate furniture for the students to use while cooking. Right outside the kitchen area, what used to be a neglected and overgrown yard, is now a lovely garden that can be used by the students to grow vegetables! It also makes for a nice new view from the double glass doors in the kitchen classroom.

The first floor, which used to consist of a small bathroom and three small bedroom style rooms, was transformed into softer spaces to use as small classrooms and a staff area. The smaller rooms on this floor can also be used by the community for things like evening classes or family services.

Kinnarps helped us choose versatile furniture that is moveable and easily stacked. Most of the furniture was also chosen to be sized perfectly for children and adults to use.

The decorations have brightened up the space, making it feel new and exciting.

Thank you Willmott Dixon, Jestico & Whiles, and Kinnarps furniture for making this project possible. Great success!

 To check out before and after photos, visit the Big School Makeover Facebook page!