We have won planning permission for a new independent primary school in Barnet, North London. The school currently occupies a group of temporary structures that are incompatible and inadequate for the educational and recreational needs of the children. As the site is triangular it is severely space-constrained by its shape and the boundary it shares with suburban houses and gardens. It is by-passed by a brick built railway viaduct that is still in use today by the Northern Line tube. The new boomerang-shaped building attempts to re-configure the constraints of the site, to enable the school to achieve contemporary space standards for classrooms and to provide inspiring and delightful spaces for learning. Separate play decks have been designed for the differing age ranges: a linear play area running parallel and adjacent to the viaduct, a kindergarten play area at ground level, and a roof-top playground. The new school entrance leads into an enclosed courtyard from which all of the educational and recreational spaces are accessed. Fin walling across the site defines a series of interior and exterior spaces that simultaneously envelope and unfold. Those are linked by walkways and gentle sloping gradients that give access to the successive levels. Materials and colours, combined with natural light, create an environment which is conducive to each child’s well-being, safety and learning experiences. A fund-raising campaign is underway to enable construction to be well underway by mid-2017 with completion anticipated in early 2018.