The scheme is to provide new accommodation for Birchen Coppice Primary School in Kidderminster. The former Birchen Coppice Middle school was demolished in 2008 and the Primary School was formed in Sept 2007 and as a temporary arrangement is currently housed within the Former First School building.

The new Primary school aims to provide the necessary accommodation for a 1.5 form entry school plus a 26 place nursery and valuable community facilities.

The new school has been designed by Worcestershire County Council Property Services in house architect and aims to provide a wider range of community facilities. The project is to be an exemplar for the “Extended Schools Initiative”, bringing services together which already exist in the area and are essential to the integrity of the site and the local community.

The building houses primary school accommodation together with community spaces comprising, a main reception and community café, which are located at the very front of a double height, glazed entrance building. This area also includes parent and interview rooms, as well as rentable office spaces, all easily accessible from one central space. A studio space also forms part of this entrance and will be available and managed as a joint facility for larger gatherings and meetings. The community police unit will also have a permanent base within this building providing good community links and support to the school as well as the local people.

The building will primarily be heated using a biomass boiler- recognised 'zero-carbon' technology. The majority of the classroom spaces open out onto external teaching spaces and are designed to make use of natural day lighting and ventilation. The rainwater will be harvested and used to service the toilets; and the green roof provides a visual enhancement to the landscape as well as a number of ecological and environmental benefits.