National School Environments Week 2007

The week commencing 25th June 2007 brought torrential rain and flooding, a new Prime Minister, and the first ever National School Environments Week. The event opened with a reception at the Beatles Story, Liverpool, a fun event where guests where able to meet before Tuesday’s conference, let down their hair (and for some their youth) strumming guitars for the camera in the Cavern club!

The flooding that swept across Britain in late June may have hampered travel to the Building Better Schools Summit & Exhibition for some, but it did nothing to dampen the mood and enthusiasm at the summit. Over 200 delegates attended the venue (the Academy of St Francis of Assisi, Liverpool) to hear Jim Knight, MP and Minister of State for schools, and Prakash Nair, a US leading expert on school design, and other leading authorities speak. There was lively debate and discussion with case studies from England, Iceland, Finland, Norway, Denmark and the US. The summit drew to a close with a tour of the school by enthusiastic students who proved to be excellent representatives.

‘all the platform speakers were superb and provocative – a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding day.’ – Charles Shorland, Ansell & Bailey

The Parliamentary Reception was another key event and bought together architects, constructors, educationalists and MPs. Prakash Nair and Tim Byles, CEO of Partnership for Schools, made speeches.

Our school makeover was a highly ambitious and powerful way of marking National School Environments Week. Liscard Primary School in the Wirral is nearly one hundred years old, one of the largest primary schools in the country and a focal point of local community life providing health, education, child care and family support services; yet the school is in dire need of renovation to keep up with the demands of 21st century learning. The British Council for School Environments set a challenge to do a mini makeover of the staff room and library in just over four days with the help of dedicated BCSE members.

The staff room was transformed from a cramped, noisy and restless place to a relaxing social space featuring a new kitchen, a breakfast bar, new lighting, flooring and comfy sofas and chairs. The library was painted brighter and lighter, acoustic panels were installed to deflect noise and new furniture was added including bookcases spelling LEARN and tables with concealed PCs. The end result was met with ‘wows’ from the children and staff.

‘The pupils and staff are thrilled with the new look and I would like to pass our thanks to all concerned’. Rose Littler, Headteacher

Our thanks for their time, dedication and support in this project go to:

Aedas, BRE, Davis Langdon, Ecophon, Isis Concepts, Mouchel Parkman, Nightingale Associates, Willmott Dixon, Wirral MBC and LiscardPrimary School

The week concluded with Open Schools Friday, the aim of which was for those involved in the construction and design of schools to share their work with other members of the community, show them around, answer their questions and expain the design and building process. It was an event to showcase positive ideas for learning. A number of members took part and we look forward to more open schools next year.