Allerton High School, Leeds

Allerton High is an 11-18 Community school specializing in Business and Enterprise, in the Alwoodley area of North Leeds. The school was built in 1939 as a selective girls’ grammar school and has been extended on a number of occasions. The school has been designed to suit a roll of 1130 made up of 6FE 11-16 in classes of 30 and a Sixth Form of 230.

The building is organised around a wide street orientated north/south with the main entrance at the south end into an atrium space around which are grouped the Multi-Faith centre, the Library and Business Studies classrooms. Teaching spaces generally are grouped into two wings for general teaching {including Business Studies} and one for practical subjects. The triangular plan of the wings creates a striking diagonal geometry which unifies the whole plan. Hall and dining open off the west side of the street and this whole area produces varied spaces for circulation, socialising, ICT, private study and dining. Sports facilities are at the south end of the building giving good direct access to the playing fields and also the potential for direct entrance from the adjacent public car park.

Allerton High School has been excellently received by the Teachers and Students, as outlined here by Heather Scott, Deputy Head:

“Thanks you so much for our fantastic building! It truly does provide a graceful and exciting place for youngsters to learn in the 21st century. I know the many hours we spent in design meetings, consultations and reviews have paid off hugely when I walk along the main carpeted street and look up to see the bright, airy windows above. Everyone has commented on the fact that this doesn’t look like a school, that it is a business centre – which means that we have achieved our aim, to create a stunning state-of-the-art business and enterprise specialist school, where you know our specialism from the moment you walk in.Thank you- you’ve been brilliant.”

Our client for this project was E4L {Interserve Project Services Ltd} for Leeds City Council.