Adults may be wowed by "new learning environments" and worry about ICT infrastructure, but when it comes to new buildings, the top design priority for students is often decent toilets.
The Sorrell Foundation, a charity specialising in creative projects, has worked with young people under its "joinedupdesignforschools" programme to give them a voice in shaping new schools. It runs site visits and creative workshops and enables them to present their ideas to the school community. En route, they also develop valuable life skills in team-building, negotiation and decision-making. Over 2007-2008, the foundation is working with 90 schools that are participating in the joinedupdesign scheme for BSF.
"Students' concerns fall into two main categories," says a Sorrell Foundation spokesperson. "Physical spaces, such as toilets and dining halls, is one. But students are also worried about intangibles, such as the impact on the school reputation of it being in special measures."
Toilets were a prominent issue for students from Henry Mellish school in Bulwell, Nottingham, who worked with the Sorrell Foundation on the design for a new academy. The academy, based on a partnership between Nottingham city council and the education charity Edge, will replace their school and one other from 2009-10. Wolff Olins, branding and identity consultants, worked with the students as did designer Andrew Savvides who led a workshop. Toilet blocks were seen as a potential bolt-hole for bullies, and criticised for poor plumbing and cleanliness. Suggested improvements were regular checks on toilets by cleaning staff and for toilets to be bright and well-lit. Open plan dining areas was another idea.
Cleo Hazell, 14, at Henry Mellish, enjoyed the various activities during the consultation process. "They have listened and put all of our ideas into the design, particularly the fact that there is lots of space." She feels students have "much more to offer than adults" because they are actually living the process every day.
Lonsdale special school for children with physical or neurological disabilities in Stevenage is being refurbished under BSF, and four students worked with the Sorrell Foundation to generate ideas, including consultation with project architects Hawkins/Brown, and attending a creative workshop to produce a design brief.
Danny Grint, 15, says space was key. "We suggested the new bathrooms should be bigger for wheelchairs because once there's a lot of equipment in there they are quite small. We also wanted a bigger hall so we could do dance projects with other schools, and more space in the corridors."
Weblinks
BSF in Hertfordshire: hertsdirect.org/bsf
Bulwell: bulwellacademyquestions.co.uk
Edge: edge.co.uk
Sorrell Foundation: thesorrellfoundation.com
Wolff Olins: wolfollins.com
