School Refurbishment Projects: What Should You Consider?

The experiences that we have at school shape us for the rest of our lives. From the subjects we take to the friendships we form, everything we do (and don’t do) will influence the path we follow. 

Therefore, it’s important to try and set up our schools right now to give the students of today and the adults of tomorrow the best experiences possible.

So, let’s take a look in detail at eight practical benefits school renovation can have.

Can school refurbishments attract better staff?

Good facilities aren’t just something that parents are looking for when they assess a school; this is something that could attract talented staff too. Whether it’s an eye-catching new building or staff room, or the exact equipment they need to teach their classes properly, a newly refurbished school is bound to make a good impression on potential new teachers. 

Can school refurbishments make grades better?

You might think that academic performance is tied purely to the quality of the teaching or perhaps the students themselves, but this isn’t true. A study carried out by the Islamic Azad University found that the characteristics of the learning space students found themselves in had a profound effect on their academic performance. 

Whether it’s a case of having the right equipment at their disposal to carry out their learning properly or finding motivation in their new environment, students will stand a better chance of thriving if you decide to renovate your space.

Can school refurbishments improve the first impressions of parents?

Whether we like it or not, first impressions are essential. Parents will often decide whether or not they like a school within the first five minutes of visiting, much like you would if you were being shown around a potential new home. With this in mind, by refurbishing some of the key areas of your school, you could drastically improve the chances of parents taking a shine to it.

Can school refurbishments make way for new technology?

Technology moves at a fast pace, so if you’re not constantly keeping your school and its facilities up to date, there’s a good chance that it will get left behind. What’s more, if you decide to refurbish your facilities entirely, you get the opportunity to integrate some new hardware into the design of the classrooms themselves.

Can school refurbishments improve mental wellbeing?

If you want to improve student and staff mental wellbeing, carrying out refurbishments is an excellent way to go about it. 

From improving sports and exercise facilities so students can let off steam, or improving student and staff common rooms so social bonds can be formed, the ways in which mental wellbeing can be improved through redesign are numerous.

Can school refurbishments increase sustainability?

Everyone is becoming more sensitive to how we treat our planet. Increasingly parents and children alike will expect their school to do more to positively contribute to resolving this global problem.

This issue carries particular weight in a school setting, as here are the generations who will be most affected by the impact of climate change. 

Refurbishment presents the perfect opportunity to introduce sustainability into the school premises. This might mean the incorporation of recyclable materials and better insulation. It could involve setting up energy-efficient systems or renewable energy infrastructure. It might even mean setting up special bins or weaving encouraging messaging in the interior design. 

However you choose to do it, there are many ways to support sustainability in a school refurbishment. 

Can school refurbishments support learning needs?

Different children will learn in different ways. Some children may require more support or a different type of support to succeed. 

Refurbishment can assist with supporting everyone’s learning needs by thinking about what technology might be needed, whether any private spaces will be required for one-on-one learning, or even how the light, temperature and acoustics might affect children’s ease of learning. 

Can school refurbishments instil a sense of community?

School is not just about learning. It’s also about making friends and forging meaningful connections with peers, so consider this need in the refurbishment plans. 

Are there enough areas for relaxing, eating and socialising? Do you have comfortable chairs in these areas that create a more laid-back atmosphere? Are there enough facilities to support pupils with group projects and brainstorming sessions? All these questions can be thought about at the design stage. 

Here at Aedifice Partnership, we manage new school refurbishment projects throughout the UK, offering our expertise and keeping an open line of communication throughout the project to ensure that it runs as smoothly as possible. For further details on the services Aedifice Partnership has to offer, please don’t hesitate to get in touch and a member of our team will be happy to assist.