Ealing Schools is a key PFI project for the local area replacing run-down facilities with modern and flexible educational and community-use space. The four schools (Brentside High School, Downe Manor Primary School, Gifford Primary School and Ravenor Primary School) were carefully and innovatively designed through extensive dialogue with teachers and the local council in order to give each one its own bespoke design and identity.

This was a highly collaborative project that brought together the scheme’s designers, contractors and FM providers to future-proof the facilities through a whole life cost approach for durability of design, components and equipment. One of the challenges was also to minimise disruption to the students, which was avoided with the use of phased delivery of the newly built facilities on the existing school sites.

Through this collaborative approach, Kajima has had the opportunity to create stunningly-designed learning spaces that are also highly functional and respond to the pupils’ needs of today.

• Public Private Finance Award 2003: Best Education Project over £20 million