Based on feedback from thousands of installations completed in schools around the world over five decades, S+B hold the view that there are five key factors to be considered when designing an effective modern classroom.

1. Innovative Design with student appeal

The environment created to facilitate learning can be a major motivator or demotivator. Everyone involved in design has a responsibility to ensure they are creating an environment that attracts students and stimulates the desire amongst them to be in that space. There is a strong movement away from basic utilitarian design towards a more contemporary, innovative design with greater student appeal.

Colour, lighting, shape form are all important aspects of any design and an effective design will integrate all these things in a cohesive manner. All classrooms should not look the same. Variety stimulates and motivates. Cleverly designed furniture can combine with attractive wall art/murals to create an appealing and inspiring classroom. Many international schools use new and innovative classroom fit-outs as the focal point for parent-teacher evenings and for marketing.
 

Food Technology Suite

Professionals in the design and fit - out of classrooms will not be prescriptive. They will offer you a range of options at different price points with a properly qualified critique of the pros and cons associated with each. Be wary of anybody who proposes a simple off the shelf, one-size-fits-all “solution” and who places emphasis on cheapness. A new room fit-out is a significant capital investment and spending some time and energy in researching suppliers and options will provide the best results.
 

2.  Flexibility

Flexibility is often referenced by designers and is considered an important objective when designing a learning space. This term means different things and what for some may be a design that provides flexibility, for others it is anything but. Usually the ability to easily rearrange furniture is considered flexible. Whilst this can be true, it is not always the case. Room size and shape, positioning of doors, windows and radiators may be such that furniture reconfiguration options may be very limited.

There are safety considerations e.g. use of boiling liquids, naked flames, chemicals, resistant materials and machine tools in science labs, food tech areas and technology studios. Classrooms that need services and which confine services to perimeter benching can be very inflexible. Collaborative group work is restricted to confined spaces and students engaged in activities which have risk are doing so with their backs to the teacher. In such circumstances, fixed island benching would be more flexible than movable tables.

More important than fixed or movable furniture is a design which enables the teacher to use the classroom in different ways i.e. facilitate interactive group work, whole class address, practical work, theory work and enable the teacher to employ formative assessment and reaction to the individual needs of students.

 

A modern multi-use STEM classroom combining fixed and movable furniture

 

3. Pupil-centred Learning

There has been a movement away from regimented rows of benching to eliminate back row syndrome.  Modern designs will encourage the teacher to move around the classroom engaging with smaller student groups. Less formal arrangements have become more prevalent, something far more popular with students. The design should not prohibit lectures and demonstrations. Students and teachers should be able to move around the classroom easily and safely. Narrow gangways which create inaccessible areas within the room with risks to safety and limits student, teacher interaction should be avoided.

 

 A modern pupil-centred Science Lab Design

 

4. Efficient Storage Solutions

Storage areas need to be considered in any school design. There is a requirement for localised storage. Storage can be built into a classroom design with under bench cabinetry and free-standing cabinetry. Room size limitations can be addressed with “working/teaching walls”. Combinations of shelving, drawer packs, display boards, trays, whiteboards, TV housings, filing cabinets and pull out trolley/tray units can be fitted in a room running floor to ceiling.
 

SpaceSaver Teaching Wall
 

5. Quality

Budgets are limited in schools and compromises are often necessary. However, it is surprising how much money is invested in the design and provisioning of spaces such as reception areas, whilst classroom fit-out decisions are based on the lowest first cost, which never represents the best value. Schools exist to educate students and the ultimate customer is the student. The classroom should be subjected to the fewest compromises.

Cost is important, but the best life cycle should be the objective. Emphasis should be placed on quality going into the classroom. An example where better value can be realised is in choosing a worktop material suitable for the subject, which can be repaired easily, and which can be brought back to as a new appearance. Although it may cost more initially, it will provide better value because it will not need replacing for 25 years. Another example would be in choosing cabinetry based on build quality rather than the lowest initial price.

Corian worksurfaces in a in a high-quality modern school Science Lab 

 

Mike Serridge, Director at S+B Limited – Mike sits on the British Standards Committee LB1/1/1 Laboratory Furniture and Fittings and has been involved in the design, manufacture and installation of educational furniture systems for Science, Design, Control, Information and Food Technology for over 30 years. S+B is one of the UK`s leading specialist in this field and has provided STEM interiors for schools in all parts of the world. The emphasis placed on innovative, pupil-centred design which facilitates both contemporary and conventional pedagogy and with strong student appeal has resulted in S+B being awarded the Queens Award for Enterprise in International Trade for its work with International Schools.

https://www.splusb.co.uk/education/