School offers some of the best years of your life. Growing up, making friends, finding yourself, figuring out what makes you tick. It’s a great time to be alive. We learn so much, grow so much, change so much in those years at school. The setting that you learn in plays such an important part as well. The building needs to be right, the reception area, the classrooms. Everything from the front desk to the sports hall. Setting up your education setting is such a big task but one which, when done properly, will help your school run.
The Welcome
Things to consider when you are setting up your education setting include the outside appearance. What does it look like from the outside. It needs to feel welcoming and want to encourage people to come inside. If it’s harsh, cold and unfriendly, people won’t. To get kids to learn in school, they need to be in school. The welcome for everyone from new staff, new students and visitors need to show your best side. Clean, tidy, bright, bold and impressive. Your reception area needs to be welcoming for guests and there entrances for staff and students free of clutter and well lit.
Dedicated Space For Staff
Space for staff needs to allow them to work. Yes there will be classrooms that they use every day and are set up for helping teach students properly. However teachers also have planning, marking and downtime. A proper staff room with decent coffee making facilities is integral. You could even create quiet zones where that marking and planning have flourish. A great idea is to invest in office pods so teachers can work uninterrupted. Perhaps these can be booked via an internal booking system or just a free for all. It could even be allocated to those on free periods so they have a space to work in away from distractions, should they wish. The opportunities are endless.
Dedicated Space For Students
Pupils need space too. Sixth form students are young adults, in the last couple of years from freedom of university and they need an area to themselves. Away from the fresh faced year sevens, they need space to embrace culture, politics, important world issues. Kids need outdoor space to run, exercise, breathe in fresh air. In our terrible weather, they also need indoor space to allow them to refresh and refocus. School can be full on, it can claustrophobic for some students who just want a bit of space throughout the day. Places for research, hot desks for computer research, areas that work can be done on free periods. All of these are important. So are sports facilities, places to rehydrate and enjoy their lunch.
Learning, being challenged, questioning history and embracing the future is all part of our education system. However students and staff all need to be comfortable to get the most out of school. What is the most important part of the building to you? Schools don’t have to be boring and traditional. They can embrace change and it starts with just one.