Thoughts from Education Buildings Scotland Conference

In its 3rd year, the Education Buildings Scotland Conference has firmly established itself as the must attend event of the year for education built environment and policy professionals. The 2 day conference is a bustling hive of discussion about all things Education and an excellent place to catch up with existing Clients and colleagues as well as the opportunity to forge new relationships with inspiring people.

The title of this year’s conference was Scotland’s Learning Estate – Connecting People, Places and Learning which focused on 5 key themes of Suitable, Sustainable Estate, Low Carbon, Digital and Inclusive Growth.

Lene Jensby Lange, an education entrepreneur, learning space design expert, school design facilitator and founder of Autens delivered an inspirational opening to the conference. A stark reminder that ‘we are building dreams’ and in this fast changing world the importance to create meaningful, joyful and engaging learning spaces has never been more prevalent.

Lene shared some wonderful examples of where the children had taken responsibility of their learning space and created variety and not environments that are dull and boring. Some of the solutions were brilliant, none more so that the pupil who was reading a book with a cardboard box over his head, a simple solution to creating a more comfortable and appropriate environment for the task in hand!

The powerful slide of the standard white / grey classroom with dull desks facing the board and the pupil who quipped how that classroom ‘looked like the longest day ever!’. We have all been there and need to do better to ensure days feel like they fly past because the learning is meaningful and enjoyable.

The anecdote of the pupil who ‘used to sit at the back of the classroom and not engage’, that’s not the case anymore and the new learning space has allowed the pupil to take part, to gain a voice! The recognition that ‘teachers are much more quiet now’ with the pupils taking responsibility for their learning.

This wonderful keynote set the tone for the workshop sessions to follow the 5 key themes and deliver engaging presentations on the wonderful work that is being carried out across Scotland. The innovation that is being shown in connecting learning and communities across Scotland and the increasing use of technology to inform and shape the way that we are learning is gaining pace.

Consultation was a common theme across all presentations and it was extremely evident that the most loved and cherished learning environments were those where everyone had played a part, no matter how small, in shaping the project. It’s a lot easier trying to change people’s perceptions and ways of working in facilities if you bring them along on the journey!

Quality was also at the forefront of the conference with excellent suggestions and initiatives to improve Scotland’s education estate. Perhaps the most important driver is the change of culture required to ensure that everyone is pulling in the same direction to ensure that quality is at the forefront of the agenda, not confrontation and self-preservation.

Climate Change agenda has brought a key focus on sustainability and there were some excellent presentations on the opportunities and methods to develop more sustainable buildings. Running costs are a huge concern for local authorities and the opportunity to invest in better buildings minimise ongoing costs was encouraging.

Whilst the Scottish weather isn’t particularly wonderful, this doesn’t hinder the opportunity for the children to utilise the hugely important external environment to extend learning outside. There were some wonderful examples of external play spaces providing huge variety and quality of external learning opportunities. No longer should we be accepting a black sea of tarmac and the landscaping budget being slashed at the end of projects – if only cardboard boxes didn’t turn to mush in the rain!

It’s always important to recognise success and the Awards Dinner offered the perfect opportunity to relax during a busy 2 day conference and celebrate the work that goes in to Scotland’s Education Buildings. Holmes Miller were delighted to have received the following recognition at the dinner:

· Award in the Early Learning & Childcare category for Glenpark Early Years for Inverclyde Council

· Award in the Pupil/Student Experience for St Margaret’s RC Primary School for City of Edinburgh Council

· Highly Commended in Project of the Year for North East Campus for Dundee City Council was

· Highly Commended in the Innovation in Delivering Value category for Carntyne & Blairdardie Primary Schools for Glasgow City Council

What is clear from the conference is that Scotland is in a wonderful place with amazingly passionate people with an unwavering drive to deliver suitable, sustainable, inclusive and joyful learning environments.

Let’s work together to build dreams!