Seminars
Delegates should choose two of the following seminars. Each seminar will take place both in the morning and the afternoon. Please indicate your favoured options on the booking form. We will endeavour to meet your preferences but cannot guarantee first choices. Thank you.
Seminar 1
Hadley Learning Community
Paul Topping (VP)
Opened in September 2006 HLC has been built as a 21st Century education centre. It includes a nursery, primary, secondary and special schools and community learning resources. The £73m building features an environmentally-friendly design, state-of-the-art library, swimming pool, theatre, recording studio, gym, and sports facilities.
The Microsoft School
Scott Prisco
Bill Gates has famously called high schools "obsolete" and warned about their effect on U.S. competitiveness. The Microsoft school may be unique with not only a high-tech building - "learners" have digital lockers and "educators" use interactive smart boards - but also a learning process modelled on Microsoft's management techniques.
Chair: Bob Vince, Interserve (C)
Seminar 2
Fawood Children's Centre, London
Sarah Neno (H)
The spectacular, colourful design means that this centre acts as a beacon in one of London's most disadvantaged areas. Fawood was built using recycled sea containers linked by wooden decking and warmed by underfloor heating and features a piazza for outdoor picnics, a Mongolian yurt, a tree house and a water garden.
Effra Early Years Centre
Ann Hitchens (H)
This center is a colourful, spacious and spectacularly lit building with a many skylights and large windows. It includes a nursery and childcare services alongside community services and has flexible spaces which can be hired out for community and private functions. Toilets featuring a bespoke hand washing island are designed to be attractive to children.
Chair: Grace Comely
Seminar 3
Hosmarinpuisto School and Day Care Centre, Finland
Yrjo Suonto (A)
Completed in 2005 around a courtyard design, this nursery and primary school made almost entirely of wood, combines ecological ideas and construction with local materials to create a wonderful example of a flexible, multi-use building that serves 250 pupils as well as the local community.
Navigation Primary School, Altrincham, Manchester
Charles Shorland (A)
This is a prime example of a successful partnership between the community, local authority, designers and contractor. From its inception, the architects were eager to involve the whole school in the design and building process.
Chair: Sharon Wright, Creative Wit
Seminar 4
Crossways Academy
Anthony Bravo (P)
This Academy is a "smart" building with effective ICT systems. Crossways Academy is a world-class institution with possibly the best ICT in the country. 85% of pupils entered university last year, A-level results are up as is staff retention.
Vikurskoli, Reykjavik, Iceland
Sigurdur Gustafsson (A)
This state-of-the-art primary and secondary school is designed to be the centrepiece of its small community. Its various units are placed along a "main street" linking the units, open areas and parks of the surrounding neighbourhood. The whole building has an energy saving system and the school landscape is outstanding for environmental education.
Chair: Peter Owen
Seminar 5
Four Dwellings High School, Birmingham
Bernie Smith (H)
Four Dwellings is a specialist science college in Edgbaston, Birmingham. Already a successful community school, its long-term vision is to be a learning village that promotes a 'learning for life' environment that serves to inspire, motivate and engage people of all ages. Four Dwellings forms part of Phase 1 of Birmingham's BSF programme.
Heimdalsgades Overbygningsskole (HGO), Denmark
Lasse Reichstein (H)
Once a bread and paper factory HGO is now a sophisticated learning environment catering for students from 14 to 17 in a deprived area of Copenhagen where for many, Danish is their second language. Based around four curriculum areas, students spend six months in each area on a project-based curriculum.
Chair: Alec Harris, Wates (C)
Seminar 6
New Visions for Public Schools, New York, USA
Hsing Wei
The largest education reform organisation dedicated to improving the quality of education in New York's public schools, New Visions develops programmes and policies working with the public and private sectors to energise teaching and learning and raise the level of student achievement. Since 1993 it has been a leader in creating innovative small schools that combine personalised learning environments with rigorous educational programs.
The Five S's
Jo Nathan, USA
In a report for the National Clearing House for Educational Facilities entitled "Smaller, Safer, Saner, Successful Schools", Jo Nathan examines 22 schools public school buildings in 12 states across America. He argues that by creating small schools that share facilities a more positive, challenging environment can be created with higher graduation rates.
Chair: Liz Malcolm, PSI UK
Seminar 7
Raholt Secondary School, Eidsvoll, Norway
Kristin Jarmund (A)In a rural landscape a square, one story glass pavilion raised on a platform 50 cm above the ground "floats" above the surrounding fields. The inside areas are like a village; no corridors, but main streets, narrow paths, open squares, lightwells and integrated gardens.
The Education Village, Darlington
Carolyn Barker (VP)
This pioneering Education Village is rethinking the concept of school. Opened in April 2006 it combines a secondary, a primary and a special school catering for 1400 pupils from nursery age through to adulthood. Workforce remodelling is high on the agenda as three schools, children's services and para-professionals are brought together under one roof.
Chair: Jon Eachus, Waring & Netts
Seminar 8
St Nicholas Primary School
Mark Brierley (A)
Created around the concept of a "window into the environment" the choice of organic forms and materials was inspired by the school's rural setting and sustainability was an important consideration in the design. A striking elliptical hall, rectangular classrooms and winding corridor combine to form a range of diverse learning spaces.
Hellerup School, Copenhagen, Denmark
Knud Nordentoft (H)
Largely open plan with a stunning series of wooden central staircases that double as seating and performance spaces, Hellerup has been created for pupils of 6-16 years of age. A number of "home bases" complete with kitchen areas and chillout spaces form relaxed learning environments where students follow a project based curriculum.
Chair: Tony Mrowicki, Taylor Woodrow (C)
Key:
(C) - Constructor
(H) - Headteacher
(A) - Architect
(P) - Principal
(VP) - Vice Principal