Hatcham Temple Grove Primary School suffered a devastating fire which tore through the Victorian building, destroying the roof and causing extensive structural damage. The blaze forced the school community to relocate and left the historic three-storey building unusable. Buxton was appointed by Haberdashers’ Aske’s Federation to deliver the reinstatement, refurbishment and extension of the school, bringing the damaged building back into full use. The project focused on improving circulation and layout within the vertically stacked structure, creating a more efficient and accessible environment for pupils and staff. Careful design allowed the original Victorian shell to be retained while introducing new formal teaching spaces finished to modern standards. A series of informal learning areas were also created throughout the building, providing flexible breakout spaces to support different styles of teaching and learning. A new assembly hall capable of accommodating whole-school events was formed by carving space out of the existing structure. This created a central gathering space for assemblies, performances and community use. The building fabric was upgraded throughout, with insulation brought up to current standards. New energy-efficient boilers and modern building services were installed, improving both comfort and long-term operational efficiency. This project demonstrates Buxton’s experience in restoring fire-damaged heritage buildings, combining sensitive refurbishment with modern construction techniques to return a much-loved school back to the heart of its community.