Education Buildings Journal


Value of Good Design in Schools: 10 Steps to Consider


A good school is driven by its educational vision and ethos. The role of school buildings, whether new or partially refurbished can facilitate this vision. In school design there are many common parts whether that is teaching spaces, staff spaces or generalised large spaces. However one size does not fi t all. The school building needs to function whilst eliminating challenges such as cramped spaces, lack of natural light and bad acoustics. School buildings should relate to their surrounding community, each offering unique opportunities whilst overcoming their individual challenges.


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Need to maintain continual government investment. The government have stated that


they are investing £10 billion to maintain or improve school buildings between 2016 to 2021. (The School Conditions Improvement Fund, Department of Education created 825,000 places since 2010, with the priority now focussing on secondary school places.) Continual investment in the school estate is required which provides for a good level of maintenance and ensures that all schools are fi t for purpose. There is no reason to still have crumbling and overcrowded facilities.


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Challenge the Brief…. There are many things to consider: We are fairly traditional in the way we think of how a school should be and the facilities that they should offer. Having great facilities that are open for a short time in the day and then shut for 14 weeks over the


Caroline Buckingham


Vice President Practice & Profession, RIBA Caroline Buckingham Architects


Designed by architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) for Clients Wandsworth Council LEA/Lend Lease


year doesn’t necessarily make good sense. With a lack of external areas for both sports and play, schools are faced with challenges. However perhaps by having a more joined up approach, including the sharing of facilities with other schools, the community and universities would result in an overall better-quality offering? With this comes a longer term plan for management and maintenance.


a. Should existing schools be open for longer hours?


b. Can we introduce more ‘Titan’ Schools with 1600 places +?


c. Shall we consider the ‘Joined up approach’ combining the sharing of facilities?


d. What about Multi-functional schools?


e. Embracing technology with new ways of working?


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