I have shared my ideas on planning a new school building below as I have been involved in moving into 3 projects for upgrading, creating or redesigning educational facilities.
In this article, I will be sharing some ideas and strategies following common research for a new school build. I have been asked to share my thoughts through various discussions in school and on Twitter about our new building and other projects.
Purpose
In every school, there is a fine balance between the 'look' of the facilities, the focus on learning and the practicality of the day to day use of the premises. Each of these should be thought through very carefully as each can play a significant part in the positive marketing/promoting of the school, the pedagogical approaches used and the 'functional' aspect that is needed to ensure that everyone is safe, secure and comfortable in the new environment.
Routines
Establishing routines and guidelines in a new building can result in staff becoming more confident and reassured at the start of the academic year. A simple system (25. Lesson Routines) to enter and leave the classrooms can be implemented to create consistency across the school and an understanding from students and parents of what is expected. Clear communication of these expectations can be shared across the school for all staff to follow. Similar routines can be created for:
Drop off and Pick up
Break time
Lunch time
Assembly hall entry/exit (For safety)
Learning Focus
When creating/designing the classrooms and learning spaces for students to thrive in, we should consider the impact of how to make learning visible and how to upgrade your classroom design. After speaking to your students and evaluating your ideas, you can look further into campfires, caves and watering holes.
An interesting development that many schools are looking into involves using wonder walls, thinking walls and asking the question: what should I put on the walls?
I have used ways to make your classroom walls writable in 3 schools now and this has been a great way to engage students in their learning and to really boost collaboration opportunities. Covering an entire wall as a whiteboard opened up a range of ways to see the thinking process of the students and then photograph, share and revisit in the future. This was an example of dual coding in the classroom as I looked into this with my students (in Year 7 and 13).
Teachers can now investigate further factors such as light, temperature, visual complexity amongst others to develop a flexible classroom.
MakerSpace
So far we have discussed ideas for a traditional classroom layout for students and teachers to enjoy. If you have enough classroom space, you can look into the development of a MakerSpace classroom. This can be a flexible area for students to visit and create their ideas that they have formulated in the classroom. Creations can include prototyping, modeling, woodwork, metal work, robotics, electronics and many more. Designing a school MakerSpace and the ultimate MakerSpace Resource guide are excellent areas to start from.
I have personally had excellent experiences with MakerSpace areas and see clear value for students to take their learning to the next level by actually creating, applying and constructing ideas into reality. A MakerSpace area would bring real creativity, collaboration and exploration into an innovative and exciting school environment.
New Facilities
“School buildings should be opened and used twenty four hours a day.” — Nikki Giovanni
Open Access?
Some schools are open to the community after 'normal school hours'. This can be a way to gather extra income, offer a wider range of extra-curricular clubs/activities or to engage the local community into the school environment. All visitors should have a background check before entering the site, should sign in at the reception area and should be escorted by a member of staff whilst on campus ensuring safeguarding and child protection policies are adhered to.
What other advantages or disadvantages can occur due to creating open access?
Don't forget the storage!
We can all get very excited about the way in which a new facility can enhance and transform the learning opportunities for students at school. Some fundamental areas that are often overlooked can include the following:
Storage space
Staffroom space
Power sockets
WiFi coverage inside and outside (for outdoor play and lessons)
Assembly Hall for whole school
Meeting rooms
Music rooms for practice
Specialist rooms
A new building can be a challenge for staff to accept, embrace and to see the opportunities. It is a step into the unknown, a move away from comfort and familiarity.
Staff need time, support and encouragement to adjust.
For all staff, I have created previously 'help guides' to share the pedagogical ideas above as they get used to using the new facilities. These can be live documents, added to and amended as staff become more familiar with the layout, resources and different ways of learning that are now available.
Published by Paul Walton. @paultwalton
Principal, Educator, Leadership Coach.
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