We worked with award-winning architects to create Aldenham Prep Riyadh, in order to reflect the very best of educational design and practice. The Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) partnered with Aldenham to provide us with an unused school campus that we have redesigned to convert the existing school buildings, bring them up to date and put our own stamp on them. Our interiors and furnishings were designed by the team at Kidzink, who’ve created learning spaces to inspire our pupils and suit every need. At Aldenham Education Group, we have a rich history of blending timeless traditions with modern methods of education, and aim to bring that to Riyadh, with purpose-built facilities and spaces to inspire and educate at the same time.

Outdoors

Before you even enter Aldenham Prep Riyadh, you’ll encounter the outdoor area. The area’s been designed for our pupils to meet and play in, with playground equipment including tunnels, bridges, and a sand pit, as well as plenty of greenery and shaded areas to protect them from the sun.  At Aldenham, our all-round approach to education sees us encouraging learning throughout the school, and spilling out of the classroom, which is why our outdoor play area has been designed to provide stimulation and inspire creativity for all of our pupils.

Central Atrium

The centrepiece of the school will be the Central Atrium, a mixed use area for all of the school’s pupils to enjoy. Clusters of tables and chairs will be available for group learning, and hands-on activities. A play area provides plenty of opportunities for physical activity, with a slide and a tunnel. Elsewhere in the atrium, children can explore the Streetscapes zone, with replicas of homes and shops to roleplay in and learn about their community at the same time. The final area in the Atrium is The Cave, an area for our pupils to study on their own, to read a book, or just to reflect, with art installations dotted around it.

Early Years Classrooms

Early Years pupils will have their very own outdoor play area, which is accessible from their classrooms, giving them a chance to play and develop before being integrated with the older pupils. Inside, the classrooms are full of innovative agile furniture suited for Early Years children. Each room features a role play and hiding corner, to encourage the pupils to harness their imagination and creativity. The teachers, meanwhile, can use the innovative mobile teacher’s hub and teaching wall, complete with an interactive screen and sliding writable surfaces.

Art & DT Lab

The Art & DT Lab is full of state-of-the-art Makers Spaces, for pupils to unleash their creativity, whether they’re painting masterpieces or crafting and designing products. The lab is also home to a messy zone, with paint and spray paint, and a teaching wall with an interactive screen at the front of the classroom.

Science and Technology

At the front of the Science and Technology classroom is an interactive teaching wall and storage areas, as well as a demonstration table with a sink and electrical sockets. Pupils will sit along benches at adjustable stools, where they can conduct experiments at the spine work zone at the back of the room.

Well-Being Room

The Well-Being Room is a mixed use room, designed to be a space for pupils to study and reflect away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the school. At Aldenham, we consider our pupils’ well-being as important as their academic achievements - after all, the two are intrinsically linked. Positive well-being is linked to everything from health and happiness to less disciplinary problems and a feeling of self-worth, which is why we aim to foster it with this welcoming space. There are tables, chairs and books in the Study Corner, and one wall of the room is lined with bookshelves. Elsewhere in the room are nooks for groups to gather and collaborate, as well as informal seating like beanbags, cushions, and modular seats that can be easily rearranged.

Music Room

At Aldenham, we have a long musical tradition, with bands, choirs and orchestras led by experienced musicians and excellent facilities, and Aldenham Prep Riyadh will be no exception. The room will be fitted with acoustic treatment panels, both to soundproof the room and improve sound quality for the musicians inside. There’ll also be individual music practice rooms for individual pupils or small groups, and plenty of storage for instruments.

Learning Resource Centre

Packed with state-of-the-art features, the Learning Resource Centre is the place to be for pupils looking to work on projects or get some study time. It’s full of seating areas, with beanbags, stools, wall pods, and even a house-shaped nook lined with bookshelves. The Genius Bar is a workstation equipped with plug sockets and space for a 3D printer. In the IT Corner, pupils can get creative with technology, with access to a high-tech VR system as well as video production software. At Aldenham we always embrace modern technology, especially when it can enhance the learning of our pupils and provide them with new opportunities.

Canteen

In the school’s Canteen, pupils can enjoy meals with friends gathered around rectangular or round tables. If they’re not bringing lunch into school with them, there’ll be freshly-prepared meals cooked up every day in the kitchen, served to pupils at the serving counter, with healthy dishes to ensure they have a balanced diet.

In designing and building this school, we’ve put considerable effort into making a space that will create environments to facilitate learning, and encourage students to work together and harness their creativity. The construction work is progressing quickly, and Aldenham Prep Riyadh is fast taking shape. We look forward to welcoming our pupils to the school in the coming academic year. Until then, you can take a tour of the school to find out what’s on offer. We’re now open for tours, and are inviting all parents and children to come along and see all the fantastic facilities for yourself.