Opened in 2012, Tidemill Academy is part of the innovative £29 million Deptford Lounge regeneration project which cleverly co-locates community and education facilities in a visually striking and award-winning building with exceptional facilities. Nestled in the corner of Giffin Square, just off Deptford’s bustling high street, the entrance gives only a hint of the size and scale of the state-of-the-art facilities and space hidden behind.

The complex comprises Tidemill Academy, the library (which includes the largest children’s library in Lewisham), as well as meeting rooms, community offices, artist’s studios and 38 apartments - a cultural community hub that has won countless awards. The co-location means Tidemill pupils have access to superb facilities that most primary schools can only dream of!

Staff and children were heavily involved in the design of the school site, creating a school that is both a stimulating and practical place to learn. As well as the well-resourced classrooms, which include mini ICT suites, we also have additional spaces for group learning such as our Treehouse & Greenhouse. Our large main hall and studio hall are ideal for indoor PE with a mirrored dance studio and sprung floorboards. Also doubling as a theatre space, with professional stage lighting, our pupils are able to take to the stage on a regular basis. Pupils make the most of our rooftop ball court during break-times, PE sessions and after school clubs. Lunches are eaten in our spacious, well-lit dining hall or even out on the deck during the warmer months.

Awards

The building has won a number of awards since it opened and attracts visitors from across the world who are interested in the innovative co-location of facilities.

• Education Estates Award 2014 — Finalist
• Civic Trust Award 2013 — Commendation
• London Planning Award 2013 — Winner
• RICS London and South East Award 2013 — Commendation
• European Copper in Architecture Award 2013 — Finalist
• Building Award 2013 — Finalist
• International Property Award 2012 — Winner
• New London Award 2012 — Winner
• Structural Steel Design Award 2012 — Commendation
• Surface Design Award 2012 — Finalist
• World Architecture News Award 2011 — Winner

Accolades

“The other great aspects ... include its inter-connected hall and assembly spaces, rooftop ball court, changing facilities, design and technology music rooms, and independent access to school kitchen facilities making it available for private hire by the community, district library, resource centre for start-up businesses, artists’ studios... It’s brilliant!”

Roger Hawkins, World Architecture News Awards Judge 2011

"At Tidemill, our learning extends to every corner of the school. Each classroom is a stimulating and engaging environment, equipped with the resources to empower children in their learning and help every child to grow and develop across the curriculum. Every year, our hall spaces are transformed for our school productions with professional lighting, sound and staging. Other additional spaces, such as the design and technology room, hall spaces and intervention rooms, are used for parent workshops to keep strong links with our community. I feel very fortunate to work in a school with these excellent facilities."

KS2 Teacher

"The school has a really positive feel. Friends who have visited have all commented on how colourful and bright it is and how welcome it feels. The space works really well and having a large corridor for small group teaching in front of the KS2 classrooms works really well. The heart of the school is all accessible and on the ground floor, whilst the halls upstairs are really adaptable spaces."

Y3 Parent

The school has a real ‘feel good factor’ - the colours make it feel very welcoming. The building has modern, clean lines, which are enhanced by the use of the colours. The “Treehouse” fits in well with the overall design of the school and has created a wonderful new classroom space. The children love going in there and there is lots of light. Any visitors are always positive about the ‘feel’ of the school and we (pupils and parents) are lucky to have “shared” public spaces – these mean the school has wonderful facilities which the community can also use in the evenings, at weekends and in the holidays. The design of the halls means that they can be used for a variety of activities and are adaptable to meet different needs e.g. dance, ballet, sport etc. There is lots of space for workshops and the children’s performances so parents can all attend events easily. We are lucky to have such a wonderful school on our doorstep.”

Y4 & Y6 Parent