New minimum standards of design for BSF will come into force in 2009, says Tim Byles, chief executive of Partnerships for Schools (PfS).
Experts from education will join school design panels, which advise on bids shortlisted by each local authority. In the past, Byles says, bids "frankly not fit for purpose" had slipped through the net, causing unnecessary expense and delay.
Schools minister Jim Knight flagged up the changes at the PfS conference in September. The new standards are being drawn up by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (Cabe), PfS, and the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
Critics worry that these will further delay the costly BSF programme. Byles disagrees: "On the contrary, it will streamline schools' commitment to buildings which transform education."
At present, a panel of design experts assesses outline proposals against 10 measures, including site plan and synthesis (a design that works in the round). The bids are graded from excellent to poor. Bidders then can reframe their proposal before a second panel vets improvements and gives a revised verdict.
Cabe guidelines on school design state that "for a scheme to be considered 'excellent' overall, the submitted drawings will have demonstrated not only that a sound design solution to the brief, site and context has been achieved, but also that an aspirational educational environment is being created."
Local authorities are closely involved — and make the final decision — but will benefit from Cabe experts casting their eyes over bids and rejecting those faulty in vision or execution. Getting the design right at this early stage, Byles emphasises, will save money and time for schools, local authorities and bidding partners.
New pool members with strong educational backgrounds will be recruited by national advertising to beef up the input from school leaders.
PfS is also looking at developing ongoing assessment, so that a panel will reevaluate designs during development, at occupancy and again some years into use. "I want everyone to be as excited as possible over introducing designs that are fit for purpose," Byles says. "It's all about people and changing their engagement in education."
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Cabe design review: tinyurl.com/57kvem
