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Issue 2.3

Learning Spaces

Is off-site construction the answer to the school places crisis?

By 2023, the number of pupils in England’s schools is projected to increase by a staggering 880,000. How will our buildings cope? Kevin Harvey presents the possibility of off-site construction – an approach already helping primary and secondary schools across the country overcome an array of place planning issues.

  • 8 Jul 2015
  • 24mins
  • Kevin Harvey
Learning Spaces

Clever classrooms

For the first time, research has confirmed the positive impact factors such as good lighting, careful colour choices and a sense of ownership over the classroom space can have on children’s achievement. Hannah Sharron reports.

  • 8 Jul 2015
  • 24mins
  • Hannah Sharron
Learning Spaces

Health and Safety implications for schools as clients

There is a new piece of safety legislation, Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM15) come into force on 6th April 2015 which is going to affect all schools in control of their own building or property management.

  • 8 Jul 2015
  • 24mins
  • Louise Hosking
Learning Spaces

“A Hub on the Hill”

This was the vision for the site overlooking Plymouth Sound, articulated by the then Principal Helen Mathieson when we first met in December 2011.

  • 8 Jul 2015
  • 24mins
Learning Spaces

Special report on Outdoor Learning

At Learning Spaces we always try to include an article on external learning opportunities in each edition. This edition we decided to consider the impact of having separate enclosed spaces as part of the environment.

  • 8 Jul 2015
  • 24mins
Learning Spaces

Heartlands High Integrating autism provision

Heartlands High School is a new community school for Haringey with outstanding facilities. The school has received artsmark status for the excellent work it produces in the arts, and has a specialised autistic provision faculty that runs alongside the mainstream school.

  • 8 Jul 2015
  • 24mins
  • Penny Parker
Learning Spaces

The Hackney Pirates and their Ship of Adventure

Hackney resident and former teacher Catriona Maclay believed that, with some additional support, young people who have fewer opportunities and are falling behind could become fully rounded learners who are able to achieve at school and in the wider world. As a result the Hackney Pirates were founded in 2010 and this has become their vision.

  • 8 Jul 2015
  • 24mins
  • Catriona Maclay
Learning Spaces

Standard school designs or bespoke solutions – Is there a third way?

Ian Wilson suggests a design solution which provides all the benefits of repetition and standardisation but where each school can respond differently to prescribed programmes and accommodate their own site constraints.

  • 8 Jul 2015
  • 24mins
  • Ian Wilson