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FEATURE FOCUS: SCHOOL MAINTENANCE & DESIGN
Purpose, paint and the positive impact of design in the classroom
A recent study as part of the Holistic Evidence and Design (HEAD) project found that well-designed primary schools boost children’s academic performance, with differences in classroom characteristics accounting for 16% of progress in reading, writing and maths over the course of a year. This report estimated that the impact of moving a child with average ability from the least effectively designed learning space to the most effective would be around 1.3 sub-levels. The study also concluded that the most effective classroom designs considered natural light, temperature and air quality, individualisation, and stimulation driven by a complexity of colour. Traditional classrooms often feature bright
T
he design and colour of any room is important - it effects how occupants feel,
can impact on creativity levels and may even calm people down. In our next feature on the importance of design in the classroom, Dawn Scott at Dulux Trade explores how the design of learning spaces can significantly impact on a child’s learning and behaviour, and path to their success.
primary colours that appeal to children and enable them to distinguish between different objects. Bright blues and reds are also known to have been used in classrooms – and, by extension, office spaces – as they have been proven to inspire an upsurge in productivity and creativity. However, for pupils with additional behavioural or educational needs, learning in traditional classrooms can be a challenge. Schools celebrate having a diverse set of pupils with a range of needs and ways of learning, but sometimes these cannot be met in conventional classroom settings. Learners who are shy or anxious in classroom environments, who let out frustrations through misbehaving, or find it difficult to work amicably
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with other pupils benefit from a space to harness their creativity and skills in a calming, subtle environment. Having an area such as this to aid the learning and development of pupils without disrupting – or being disrupted by - their peers not only benefits the individual learner, but learning across the whole school.
Implementing the best design When designing a room dedicated to supporting students with additional behavioural and educational needs, it is important to involve the learners in the process to understand exactly what they like and dislike about their current classroom environment. While many children express an enthusiasm for learning, it could be that some don’t feel comfortable with independent learning, while others thrive in quieter, more solitary working environments. For instance, some children may feel overwhelmed by the excitement of their peers and require emotional and mental support, as well as educational. As the needs of students can vary, it is
important to consider how one space can accommodate multiple needs – and, as such, sectioning it out into different ‘zones’ can be beneficial:
Welcome Zone It is important to make students feel as
June 2022
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