School Design Objectives

The challenge of delivering school projects is greatly more than the designing of an educational facility. Every school is different in relation to its context and aspirations for learning, however all schools should be developed to achieve the following over-arching objectives:

  1. High-quality design that inspires users to learn and is rooted in the community

  2. Good use of the site, balancing the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, and enhancing the school’s presence in the community

  3. Buildings and grounds that are welcoming, safe and secure, and inviting to the community while protective of the children

  4. Good organisation of spaces in plan and section, easily legible and fully accessible

  5. Internal spaces that are well proportioned, fit for purpose and meet the needs of the curriculum

  6. Flexible design to support transformation, allowing for short-term changes of layout and use, and for long-term expansion or contraction

  7. Good environmental conditions throughout, including optimum levels of natural light and ventilation

  8. Well-designed external spaces offering a variety of different settings for leisure, learning and sport

  9. A simple palette of attractive materials, detailed carefully to be durable and easily maintained, and to age gracefully

  10. A sustainable approach to design, construction, environmental servicing and travel to school

Old School Problems

  • Old Schools are institutional.

  • Schools are not an inviting place to learn or work.

  • School’s buildings are poor quality.

  • Schools do not relate to their urban context or surrounds

  • School buildings do not improve the neighbourhood

  • School buildings are factories for education.

  • Education is not valued by society.

New School Benefits

  • School design embodies ethos and identity.

  • The educational vision is manifested in the design.

  • Buildings have an appropriate civic presence, and the design strengthens the image of education locally.

  • Schools contribute to the neighbourhood beyond the site boundary and be considered in an urban context.

  • Schools say who we are as a society, and that we value our children, teachers and each other.

  • Environments support teacher and student health & wellbeing.