Independent Schools
The Independent school’s market is becoming increasingly competitive, as schools compete to offer the optimum educational setting, set against the backdrop of changing taxation, targeted charitable status, removal of rates relief and sharp increases in teachers’ pension contributions. The fee income derived annually, and the school’s ability to diversify, and capitalise its offering, are therefore crucial in ensuring long term viability and sustainability. Furthermore, the approach to diversification that the school chose to take, can form an important step in bridging between public and private education, highlighting the distinct role that independent schools can play in the community.
What are the opportunities to provide pre-school education?
As national standards for provision of early years education come into fruition, and funded places for 3-5 year olds become common place across the UK, there remains considerable demand for the creation of nursery care for babies and infants from birth. This service can be vital for parents, where the opportunity to take extended maternity leave from work does not exist. From the perspective of the school, this can allow early introduction to prospective parents and pupils, whilst offering a highly sought after and valued service within the local community. When considering this provision, independent schools can utilise their reputation as a hallmark for quality, to attract parental interest, but what are the key aspects that high quality nursery care should provide? Understanding how space is created and zoned to align with a pre-school curriculum, recognising the importance of colour and tone in a playroom setting, and ensuring strict compliance with Care Commission design guidelines are all crucial to getting this level of service right, and becoming a recognised market leader.
What are the opportunities to diversify the school portfolio whilst integrating with the community ?
Under increased financial pressure, the prospect of providing and maintaining specialist facilities, such as leisure and recreation buildings, solely for the use of the school can be challenging. Whilst issues around security and pupil protection require careful thought, if schools can reach out in partnership with local community groups and organisations, the ability to co-share buildings or indeed, construct new, state-of-the-art amenities, can be realised. This endeavour can offer the opportunity for greater exposure to competitive sport, whilst supplementing the schools income through lease agreements and sponsorship. Beyond sport, the opportunities to diversify through established links with universities and vocational training centres, can allow a school to continue to develop specialisms, and offer a more diverse curriculum, further emphasising the quality of educational experience that the institution can offer.
Can the school estate be assessed to allow an increase in pupil population?
A valuable exercise is often the rationalisation of a school estate, particularly when addressing listed or historic campus settings. By undertaking a detailed survey, reassigning and assessing space allocation, and through application of current legislative standards, existing buildings can be used with increased efficiency, allowing an increased roll to be considered. In our experience, this exercise can lead to creation of innovative social and study areas for day boarders and 6th form students, boosting the pupil experience in this market. Similarly, assessment of existing buildings to allow single sex schools to consider moving to a co-education structure can be undertaken, allowing an understanding of the impact that bringing a further pupil stream through the school could generate.
Does the design of a classroom impact pupil performance?
The creation of well-designed classrooms, learning spaces and social areas is vital in ensuring optimum outcomes for all pupils. Crafting interior spaces takes focus far beyond aesthetics, with analysis of CO2, daylight and ventilation critical in creating an environment that boosts pupil concentration, engagement and attainment. With the climate agenda at the forefront, schools need to demonstrate their ability to provide optimised classrooms in a sustainable manner.
The unique offering that fully boarded independent schools offer, is that student support extends well beyond the standard school day, allowing pupils to experience and benefit from enhanced extra-curricular activity, within a collegiate setting. In order to emphasise the quality of this experience however, schools must ensure that the facilities being provided, meet and exceed the expectations of prospective students. With classrooms designed to meet the best possible environmental conditions, schools must then consider the wider campus, as a setting for pupil development. Integrating unique features as part of the residential experience can assist in ensuring pupils fully embrace all the social aspects that a school can offer. Modern, ergonomically designed boarding accommodation (which in turn could generate rental income during school holiday periods), well considered and appointed social areas for relaxing and group interaction, activity spaces such as cinema rooms and gymnasia, and accessible, approachable rooms for housemaster / housemistress interaction, and pastoral care, all lead to an enriched school life.
What are the intangible aspects of design that can enhance pupil performance?
In creating new boarding accommodation, we would seek to create spaces that focus on pupil wellbeing and mindfulness. Integrating lighting that adjusts to suit the circadian rhythm can ensure that students maintain healthy balance throughout the day, adjusting to enliven in the morning, and gradually adjusting in hue and output into evening, to create a calming environment and encourage positive sleeping patterns. The use of natural materials across boarding accommodation has been demonstrated to assist in reducing anxiety and regulating heart rates within pupils, again assisting in ensuring positive mental health and outlook. All of the above, coupled with connection to a well-considered landscaped campus, will elevate the pupil experience, boost performance and attainment, and emphasise the quality of the educational experience the school offers in the marketplace.
What value can schools seek in the international market ?
For UK independent schools, the prospect of developing an international campus overseas offers the opportunity to expand the ethos and outreach of the institution, whilst bringing financial security through franchise, export of skills and pastoral care.
The process of embarking on development overseas however, can be a daunting prospect, with an acute understanding of the political, social and legislative agenda of the foreign market crucial, to ensure project success. This is allied with the creation of key partnerships with investors, developers and landowners, to forge a unique opportunity to create world class, international education campuses. From our experience, the key element in ensuring a successful overseas venture, is ensuring the design is reflective of the ethos and values of the UK institution, enshrining quality and promoting a school solution that directly relates to the delivery of the curriculum. Our team are equipped to ensure this journey is professional managed, with design and delivery executed to exacting standards, offering a successful first step, in creating a new vision for your school.
Our approach
Our education clients all share a common ambition; to create environments that inspire and nurture students. Though their ultimate goal may be the same, their circumstances can vary. When it comes to creating an outstanding centre for learning, we understand that clients are often faced with numerous considerations that can impact the design, functionality and maintenance of an asset. Working collectively and strategically, our team brings a full suite of services, all focussed to ensure the sustainability and viability of our independent school clients;
Education Specialists; Creation of school buildings requires experience and understanding of both the curriculum and the factors governing pupil performance. Bringing contemporary knowledge in the design of learning spaces, coupled with a portfolio that spans a wide cross section of the education sector, ensures we create spaces that showcase the ambition and significance of our clients in the Independent schools market.
Strategic Thinkers; From existing building condition and revitalisation options, through to full campus masterplans and school vision creation, our education directors will guide and inform the process, to allow schools to craft their long term aspirations in the UK.
Environmentally Acute; We focus on sustainability from the outset of development, ensuring that the environmental credentials of the school are assessed and reinforced. For prospective parents, the knowledge that their children are being fostered in a natural, healthy and well managed setting is of crucial importance. Whilst from a school perspective, working to mitigate carbon, and developing a school estate that is renewable and brings long term life cycle savings should be at the head of the development agenda.
Internationally Connected; Through our connected studios across the UK, and abroad, we are able to facilitate global conversations, that allow schools to connect to investors, developers and educational partners, that can allow them to achieve their international ambitions.
Ultimately, we work collaboratively with school management, and Boards of Governors, to effectively and creatively craft their estate, to align with the economic, pedagogic and climatic conditions of today, and tomorrow.
