Transforming a Tired Science Lab into a Collaborative, Future‑Ready Space
Science LaboratorySt Neot's Preparatory SchoolEversley, Hampshire
CASE STUDY
A School with History, Heart and High Ambition
Set on a beautiful 70‑acre woodland campus near Hook, and founded in 1888, St Neot’s is well known locally for its welcoming ethos and enthusiastic pupil engagement. Its 300+ students, aged between 2 and 13, enjoy a rich blend of academic preparation, personal development and enrichment activities. By 2025, however, the school’s science laboratory—once a lively hub of curiosity—had become tired and lacklustre. Keen to restore a sense of energy and possibility, St Neot’s invited Metric to reimagine the space.
Reimagining a tired classroom as a dynamic, future‑ready space where students gather, experiment, and learn through shared discovery.
A science lab built to energise, inspire and evolve with its learners.
A Fixed‑Services Challenge That Needed Creative Thinking
The brief came with a significant constraint: underfloor heating meant that water, gas and electrical services were, for all practical purposes, fixed in place. Relocating them would have been prohibitively costly and time‑consuming. At the same time, the school wanted to rotate the main teaching wall by 90 degrees, creating a layout that better supported modern teaching practice. This combination left us with a genuine conundrum. Armed with a hand‑drawn sketch from the lead science teacher, we were tasked with designing a solution that met the Department for Education’s relevant Building Bulletin standards—despite the fact that achieving this would be impossible using standard components.
Designing Bespoke Pods for Movement, Collaboration and Flow
Undaunted, we set about developing a concept built around four broadly semi‑circular pods. These would allow students to work collaboratively in small groups, encouraging movement, interaction and hands‑on learning. Each pod was designed so pupils could rise from their seats and move to the front to access a sink, as well as resources stored in translucent trays. This approach not only solved the fixed‑services challenge but also created a more dynamic, student‑centred environment that aligned with the school’s teaching ambitions.
Craftsmanship, Materials and a Cohesive Visual Identity
To bring the design to life, the pods were manufactured from Solid Surface—a dense, durable material composed of acrylic resins blended with natural minerals and pigments. This allowed us to achieve the smooth curves, seamless joints and robust performance required for a busy science environment. The curved form of the worktops was echoed in the panels below, which were sprayed to match the grey of the stools, creating a cohesive visual identity. The result is a laboratory that feels modern, purposeful and built for the next generation of young scientists.
Science LaboratorySt Neot's Preparatory SchoolEversley, Hampshire
Think we're a good fit for you?
If you’re exploring how to create learning environments that truly support your vision, booking a free consultation with Metric is a great place to start. It’s an opportunity for us to listen closely, understand your goals, and bring our educational insight to the challenges you’re facing. Together, we can explore whether our approach, experience, and design philosophy are the right fit for the future you want to build.
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