BUILDINGS, MAINTENANCE & REFURBISHMENT
Transforming spaces: unlocking the potential of school buildings
J
ack Appleton, Category Lead in Furniture and Design at YPO, explores how schools and trusts can unlock the potential of their buildings, from generating greater value from their estates to transforming learning environments and using procurement as a strategic tool for improvement. Schools and trusts are increasingly striving to balance limited budgets with growing demands on staff time and resources. School leaders face difficult decisions about where best to invest their funding while providing pupils with the best possible education.
When discussing educational outcomes, attention naturally focuses on teaching and learning. Access to high-quality learning resources and classroom essentials also remains crucial. However, buildings and refurbishments are often not considered an essential priority for a pupil’s education
Yet the environment in which pupils learn can significantly impact their educational experience. Well-designed school buildings and classroom spaces can influence how pupils engage, communicate, collaborate and learn, while also supporting wellbeing and behaviour.
With financial pressures unlikely to ease soon, schools are increasingly exploring how to make the most of their current spaces rather than focusing solely on large-scale projects.
Unlocking value from school buildings
As budgets tighten, schools are seeking ways to maximise value from their estates. Repurposing buildings, refreshing classrooms and making better use of underused spaces can help meet evolving educational needs and enhance learning environments.
This approach aligns with the Government’s Education Estates Strategy, which recognises the importance of investing in high-quality learning environments. The strategy places a renewed focus on ensuring that the buildings where children and young people learn are fit for purpose and capable of supporting educational outcomes for years to come, with long- term funding of £38 billion in place until 2030.
The strategy also reflects the growing recognition that school buildings play an important role in creating the conditions for success, even as too many are in poor learning conditions and in need of repair. This is particularly important in the context of SEND (special educational needs and disability) provision, where many existing buildings were not originally designed to support the diverse needs of learners accessing specialist support today. Alongside long-term investment through programmes such as the School Rebuilding Programme, schools are being encouraged to think strategically about how they use, maintain and improve their existing estates.
Reinventing underused environments through design It can be easy to assume that if a classroom is functioning, there is little need to change it. Many schools are teaching in spaces that look much the same as they did a decade ago.
However, growing evidence suggests that the physical environment can influence both learning and behaviour. Research from the University of Salford’s HEAD (Holistic Evidence and Design) project found that classroom design can have a measurable impact on pupil progress, identifying factors such as lighting, flexibility and levels of stimulation as key contributors to learning outcomes. The study found that classroom design accounted for around 16% of the variation in pupil progress.
This evidence has helped strengthen conversations around the importance of educational environments. Research suggests that re-designed spaces can positively influence wellbeing, engagement and concentration, while also supporting different teaching and learning styles, as noted in the Education Estate Strategy.
For some schools, this might mean looking at traditional classroom design choices differently. Bright primary colours, busy wall displays, ageing furniture, or harsh artificial lighting may not always create the most effective
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learning environment, particularly for pupils who are sensitive to sensory stimulation.
Refurbishment for existing and new buildings does not necessarily require major structural work. Improvements can range from rethinking layouts and furniture arrangements to introducing more effective lighting, refreshing colour schemes and creating spaces that support different learning activities. The goal should be to create environments that are comfortable, engaging and adaptable, helping pupils to focus while supporting their social, emotional and academic development.
Creating spaces that support SEND learners
For schools supporting pupils with SEND, the learning environment can be especially important.
Many schools are exploring ways to create spaces that support emotional regulation, well-being, and engagement. This may include dedicated low- stimulation areas, safe spaces, sensory lighting, bubble tubes, calming environments, appropriately selected furniture, and muted colours. This all contributes to the overall learning experience when used as part of a wider design strategy to support inclusion.
Importantly, many of the design principles used to support SEND learners can benefit all pupils by creating calmer, more accessible and more adaptable environments.
Using procurement to transform spaces One of the biggest challenges facing schools is finding the time and capacity to manage refurbishment projects alongside their day-to-day responsibilities. This is where
procurement can play an important role. Rather than viewing procurement solely as a purchasing process, schools can use it as a strategic tool to deliver
improvements efficiently and in compliance.
Frameworks can provide access to pre-approved suppliers, helping schools identify solutions that meet their requirements while ensuring value for money and reducing administrative burden.
Public sector organisations can simplify the procurement process, helping transform tired classrooms into vibrant learning environments that enhance student engagement. From initial consultation and design proposals to fast quotations and complete installation, in-house design teams can provide expert guidance throughout every stage of a project.
Competitive tendering remains an important part of the process, enabling schools to trust that suppliers have been evaluated against criteria such as quality, cost, reliability and service. This helps ensure that investment decisions are both financially responsible and fit for purpose. By using established procurement routes, schools can often reduce the time spent on supplier selection and tendering processes, allowing them to focus more on their educational priorities and desired outcomes. While teaching will always remain at the heart of educational success, the importance of the physical environment should not be overlooked. School buildings and classrooms influence how pupils experience education every day. As schools continue to navigate financial pressures and changing learner needs, there is an opportunity to think strategically about how to use spaces more effectively.
Whether through small-scale classroom improvements, newer buildings, the repurposing of underused areas, or wider refurbishment projects, investing in learning environments can help create spaces where pupils feel supported, engaged and able to thrive.
October 2026
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