West Calder High School Extension

The extension at West Calder High School creates an open-plan learning environment to support flexible teaching styles for a diverse range of needs. Responding to sustained enrolment growth, it expands student capacity while preserving the existing building’s distinctive character, rooted in West Lothian’s heritage.

The challenge was to expand the school without compromising the open environment that supports inclusive, student-led learning, or reverting to more traditional classroom models. The extension also needed to support evolving approaches to teaching while fitting within a constrained site.

The design offers a range of settings to support different ways of learning, from collaborative group work to quiet study. Dedicated study areas and adaptable teaching spaces embody further education and the workplace, helping to prepare students for the future. The extension connects to the original building via a first-floor bridge, maintaining familiar circulation routes while encouraging interaction. To create outdoor experiences, the roof is reimagined as an accessible teaching and social space.

The openness and visibility of the extension contribute to a calm and engaging atmosphere, supporting wellbeing. Sustainability is embedded throughout, with the use of existing infrastructure reducing embodied carbon and a fabric-first approach prioritizing energy performance, material durability, and adaptability.

Photo Credit: Keith Hunter Photography