A week is a long time in politics, 2 weeks is a veritable lifetime. We launched our charter 2 weeks ago and the response has been excellent. From architects to local authorities to politicians to suppliers to leading headteachers – we have outlined below a small sample of the hugely valuable comments from across the sector. If you haven’t signed up to the charter yet, or sent your comments to us, please send us your thoughts here.
The charter and blueprint are a timely and positive contribution to the debate about what makes a good school environment. I am delighted to support it, and encourage colleagues in the state and independent sector to do likewise – Dr Anthony Seldon, Wellington College
The Decent Schools Standard should concentrate minds and help provide the best possible environment for children’s education. There’s no point having a well publicised flagship school in one part of town if other schools are run down and aren’t fit for purpose. School environments do matter and this charter asks everyone to recognise this and do what they can to make sure every school meets the standard – Graham Stuart, Conservative MP, Beverley and Holderness
Anything we can do to share and learn how to create the best environment for learning will surely pay huge dividends for GB ltd – John Lorimer, Manchester City Council
As Service Director for Schools and Early Years and the sponsor for Future Schooling Transformation in Knowsley, I totally endorse the contents of the charter. Well designed, high quality schools raise the aspirations of the children & young people who use them and whilst design alone cannot raise achievement, it is a critical factor in raising educational standards – Elaine Ayre, Knowsley Council
At the heart of the UK’s economic success and well being is a well educated, trained and committed workforce. The foundation for this is in our schools and our teachers. Investment in our learning environments and in our educators now will enable us to flourish in the future – Paul Bowman, Birmingham City Council
If everyone signed up to this, enough pressure exerted and change really happened – the world of education could really be amazingly transformed. The time is now and oh so needed! – Gareth Long, Garethl.com
Alleluia! About time there was something that brought to the fore the aged approach to education and learning that is forced on us by standardised school buildings and lack lustre environments – Derek Hayward, Turnfurlong Junior School
Every child matters” and “Every lesson counts” then every building should tell children, young people and the wider world….we really mean it – Bruce Austen, PSE Consulting
Great stuff….and a plea that we all consider that digital technologies enable learning to be supported anytime, anywhere…not just inside school buildings – Bob Harrison, SET Uk
Please let us not look back in 15 years and say BSF could have been better considered, Danny Ward, Croydon Digital
In order to give our children and young people the best learning opportunities we need school buildings that are fit for purpose. After all we are in the 21st century where different skills are needed. Would those who oppose investment in education be happy if their children had to attend schools with leaky roofs and rooms, spaces and laboratories that were not fit for purpose .Environments that had been neglected for years ? I think not – Councillor Norma Redfearn, North Tyneside Council
Kids rightly demand a positive learning environment. We have given them a secure space that does little to enhance self esteem, personality, diversity, risk taking or creativity. School environments have to change indoors and out to provide young people a nurturing, stimulating environment from which to launch themselves into the changing environment they will enter as young adults. Creative curricula, no barriers and an acknowledgement of the value of learning through play need to be entrenched throughout secondary schools. For too long we have treated the 11+ years as sterile ‘academic’ zones – Gayle Souter-Brown, Greenstone Design
Teaching & Learning is our core business, pupils and teachers need the support of good practical facilities in order to maximise individual success and achievement. Please can all the career educational experts just agree what we want by way of school environments – once,get back out of the way, and get on with funding delivery! Agree the what and let it run for 10 years+! – John P Russell, Southwark Diocese
There is a significant community of stakeholders who need to engage with this initiative. The expertise and support schools desperately need can come from many varied sources, many of which break away from traditional partners and practices. Opportunities exist for new relationships and approaches to help change our learning environments and it is time more people were made aware of what possibilities exist and why this initiative is worthy of support – Tony Peaty, Feltham City Learning Centre
For all the thousands of words I’ve written and read about why school environments are important, Victoria’s poem says it better, brighter and with more passion. This charter is a timely reminder that we need to keep challenging ourselves and change things where they’re not working – Sharon Wright, Creative Wit
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