The new Canford Sixth Form is arranged around a lawn courtyard inspired by the quads of Oxford and Cambridge.
Canford School’s New Sixth Form College
A new Sixth Form College is taking shape at the heart of Dorset’s historic Canford School. One of the leading public schools in the country, Canford School is set within the idyllic sylvan landscape of the historic Canford estate on the banks of the River Stour and includes the Grade 1 listed manor house designed by Edmund Blore and later re-modelled by Sir Charles Barry (architect of Palace of Westminster).
The new college will provide a modern en-suite residential facilities for up to 120 pupils, 4 houses for senior school staff, plus a study and social hub in the converted and refurbished curtilage-listed Monteacute House. The new college will provide an attractive, dynamic learning and social environment for students, preparing them for their progression to university.
The elevations feature rich brick detailing around windows, with a double brick setback and stepped brick spandrel panels. Windows each have an opening panel concealed by a perforated metal screen with an oak leave pattern picking up on the school logo and the tree being relocated to the centre of thew quad.
Sixth form boarding provides a university style experience for upper sixth formers to ensure an easy transition to further education.
Oxbridge Inspired Living and Learning
The design aims to create an Oxbridge collegiate feel and to acclimatise students to university living while providing pupils with a high level of care and support. Facilities are arranged around a central lawn inspired by the quads of Oxford and Cambridge and picking up on the pattern of spaces around the historic school buildings. The quad forms the focus of the college, linking the accommodation and study spaces together and connecting to the wider school. Referencing the school’s crest, a specimen oak tree will be planted in the quadrangle lawn, to become a focus of the space over time.
The accommodation is designed with flexibility in mind, with lockable partitions allowing the school to vary the proportion of boys and girls each school year. The boarding accommodation provides a university style experience for upper sixth formers to ensure an easy transition to further education.
Currently on site, the new buildings will soon be adding a new element to the historic estate. The accommodation is designed as a contemporary interpretation of the adjacent Monteacute House. Prominent gables face onto the quad and Beaufort Lawn, and the corner of the block is distinguished with a modern cupola tower and “mousehole” walkthrough.
