The Bishop Challoner Learning Village is a unique building that has made it possible for three schools to occupy a single restricted site beside the Commercial Road. 







The architects explain that their brief was to create a building that, "Bishop Challoner Catholic Collegiate School was established in September 2001, as a result of the decision to close the nearby Blessed John Roche Boys’ School and open a new Boys’ school under the governance, leadership and management of the successful Bishop Challoner Girls’ School. The concept is that of a joint or federated school with boys and girls taught in separate buildings from 11-16 years, but sharing some specialist facilities and most teaching staff. The Collegiate School also includes a mixed 6th form and will eventually have an overall complement of 1700 pupils.  A project allocation of £30.1m has been approved by the DfES for an extended campus based on the concept of a ‘learning village’, to be developed on a phased basis whilst maintaining existing facilities in use. In the long term the learning village will provide a combined campus for the education of boys and girls from ages 3 – 18 by integrating the establishments already on the site, namely:
- The Catholic Primary School
- The Boys’ and Girls’ Schools
- The current joint Sixth Form
- The local Parish Church"

A striking feature of the school is the east-west two-storey s-shaped block, that rides over the ground level north south building, supported in part on a series of leg-like columns.  The Boys' School occupies the eastern end overlooking a landscaped courtyard, the Girls' School occupies the western end overlooking the church.  This block comprises general classrooms and IT suites along with staff offices and other supporting facilities.  The planning application documents say of this elevated block that, "The building is characterised by its narrow sinuous form supported above ground on columns and stair cores, with a clear span being necessary to bridge over Lukin Street.  ....


.... Where the underside of the building is exposed above ground, zinc cladding is proposed to give a high quality of appearance.  .....