May 13, 2026 / By rachel
As part of our 40 Projects for 40 Years series, this week’s project is one that really did hit the right notes.
Week 10 of our 40 projects celebrating 40 years of RRA Architects looks at Balcarras Music School in Cheltenham, a CSR-supported education project that created dedicated teaching, rehearsal and performance spaces for a school with music firmly at its heart.
Balcarras School in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham already had an impressive musical reputation. With talented pupils, an active music department and the brilliant Balcajazz band performing as part of the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, music is clearly not just an extra-curricular activity, it is part of the school’s identity.
What the school needed was a building that could match their ambition.
This month marks the eighth anniversary of the Music School opening its doors. The official opening took place in May 2018, with pupils from the school choir and Balcajazz performing at the event. The building was officially opened by Radio DJ Jo Whiley and Julian Dunkerton, whose generous donation helped fund a significant proportion of the project.
Working as a school architect in Gloucestershire, the challenge was to deliver a building that provided dedicated teaching, rehearsal and performance spaces while making the most of a carefully managed budget. No small task, especially when the users already had such high standards and, frankly, better pitch than most of us. The new Music School was created through close collaboration between Balcarras School and RRA Architects, with support from the wider consultant and construction teams. As part of RRA’s ongoing commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility, our services were provided at cost to help make the project possible.
The design prioritised simplicity, flexibility and efficiency. A flat-roofed extension above the existing ground floor created generous internal space, allowing the building to support both everyday music teaching and recital use.
The vertical rhythm of the façade was designed as a subtle reference to musical patterns, with changing shadows cast across the building throughout the school day. A little architectural rhythm section, if you like.
Eight years on, the building continues to support a thriving music culture at Balcarras. The school’s own YouTube music channel is well worth a look and shows the exceptional standard of performance being achieved by students. It is not just impressive for a school, it holds its own as a music channel in its own right, with much of the footage taken in the Music School studios. You can watch Balcarras Music on YouTube here.
For us, this project is a reminder that good education architecture is not just about classrooms, corridors and timetables. It is about creating places where pupils can practise, perform, gain confidence and enjoy the slightly terrifying thrill of standing up in front of an audience.
As a school architect in Gloucestershire, projects like this matter because they show how thoughtful design can support young people, teachers and the wider school community, often in ways that continue long after the building opens.
As our 40 projects for 40 years series continues, we will keep sharing the stories behind the buildings, from the landmark projects to the quieter ones that help communities grow.
To see more images and details of the project, visit the full project page, Balcarras Music School.