Designing New Schools Putting people at the Heart of the process Access and Integration Conference Dec 2007

Overview Literature Review Survey Case studies

Project Overview Context and motivation for the project Aims and objectives Methodology Programme Milestones Intended outputs

Section Headings Participants roles and representation Methods of involvement Power relationships and managing expectations Barriers and challenges Impact Supporting learning

Survey 15 Semi-structured interviews with architects (6); facilitators (4); representatives from Local Authorities (4); representative from a contractor (1) Used grounded theory methodology to find emergent themes

Survey: summary of findings For students For schools For policy-makers and LEAs For contractors and designers Procurement process Participants and roles Learning Creative development Dialogue OPPORTUNITIES in the school design process Factors in success Having a voice OUTCOMES Capacity-building and support Ongoing partnership Pedagogical transformation Organisational /working culture

Case studies for research Criteria Started the process in June 07 BSF schools Engaging the school’s users in the design process Represent a range of engagement methods and strategies

1. Islington Arts & Media College Type of school: mixed community school Number of students: 900 (age-range 11-16) Status: Specialist arts college

1. Islington Arts & Media College BSF context ‘Early’ BSF stage Part refurbishment, part new-build School opened in September 1999 as a Government’s ‘Fresh Start’ School. Since its opening more than £2 million has been spent on the refurbishment of the school premises and buildings. Constructor and partnership: Balfour Beatty Capital, Transform Schools and Building Design Partnership

1. Islington Arts & Media College Mission statement for the new school (as devised by the governors and teaching staff): To develop as a creative school, raising standards of education through the innovative use of Arts & Media across the curriculum and a shared enjoyment of learning. To become a centre of excellence, inclusive and non-selective, which celebrates cultural diversity, enhances self-esteem and inspires personal success. To share resources and expertise within the local community, offering increasing opportunities for communication and lifelong learning.

1. Islington Arts & Media College The Participatory Process with IAMS Aims: To surface a number of recommendations from pupils for the existing school to feed into initial design work for the new school. To help generate a sense of ownership amongst pupils, which will be embedded within the culture of the new school. Activities: Design Festival (June 2007): - 180 participants covered over 10 workshop themes, such as communications and ICT, sustainability, learning and social spaces, the extended school, safety and inclusion and school identity - community session allowed parents, governors, local residents and community users to review the outcomes of the Design Festival, add their views and raise issues about the BSF process.

2. Hartcliffe Education Campus Type of school: 3 schools ‘merging’ into one education campus 1. Hartcliffe Engineering Community College - mixed secondary school, 873 students, age-range: 11-16 - status: specialist engineering college since 2003 2. Teyfant Community Primary School - mixed community school, 436 pupils, age-range: 3-11 3. New Fossway School - mixed, 70 students, age-range: 6-19 - status: SEN school

2. Hartcliffe Education Campus BSF context: ‘late’ BSF stage New-build Bristol is a Wave 1 Pathfinder Authority and Hartcliffe Education Campus is financed amongst the first four schools at this stage by Private Finance Initiative (PFI). HEC is due to be completed by December 2007. The campus will cater for over 1,600 pupils, aged 3-19 including those with SEN and those at risk of exclusion. Bidder and contractor: Skanska Architects: Wilkinson Eyre Local Education Partnership: Skanska, Bristol City Council, Partnerships for Schools

2. Hartcliffe Education Campus The Participatory Process with HEC Aims: Hartcliffe Education Campus will work with local people to deliver an inspirational and integrated educational complex, which will provide inclusive lifelong learning opportunities; community and sports facilities in a high quality environment where people can live, learn, work and have fun. Activities: ‘Building School for the Future’ Public Art Commission - This commission has been produced by the Bristol BSF Public Art Steering Group through the HEC Public Art Commissioning Body, which is a partnership between Bristol City Council, Skanska Education Partnership, Creative Partnerships Bristol and HEC staff, parents and students.

2. Hartcliffe Education Campus ‘Building School for the Future’ Public Art Commission Broad aims of the Public Art Programme: to produce artworks/integrated design features in response to the following questions: 1. How can young people’s input into their new school can be facilitated? 2. How can the Public Art Programme enhance the expression of each school’s cultural identity and specialist status? 3. How can the Public Art Programme encourage the integration of the organisations sharing the new campus? 4. How can this programme help build excitement, positive attitude, a sense of ownership and enhanced expectations of the school communities in preparation for occupation of the new school buildings? *A major challenge of the commission is that there is not one shared space that all students will use, so attendance to the third of the above points is crucial.

3. St. Michael’s Catholic and Church of England High School Type of school: mixed, shared campus with another comprehensive school and a primary. Number of students: 703, age-range: 11-16 Status: Catholic and Church of England school

3. St. Michael’s Catholic and Church of England High School BSF context: ‘early’ BSF stage New-build The school is in phase 3 of the BSF process and completion is expected by September 2011 The aim is to increase capacity by 300 places and replace the existing building with a new one on the same site, with the name ‘Advanced Learning Centre’. St. Michael’s ‘official’ consultation period has ended in January 2006; the stakeholders engaged were school staff, governors, MPs and local council councillors

4. Queen Elizabeth’s School: A Specialist Sports College Type of school: mixed comprehensive Number of students: 1,450, age-range: 13-18 Status: Church of England school Specialist Sports College since 2003

4. Queen Elizabeth’s School: A Specialist Sports College BSF context: ‘Late’ BSF stage New-build Queen Elizabeth’s School is a BSF 1 Pathfinder; in February 2006, it has been identified as the school in greatest need to rebuild in the wider Dorset county. Completion planned by January 2009; ‘Demonstration Project’ within the context of sustainable schools. Constructor: Alfred Mc Alpine Design Team: Feilden Clegg

4. Queen Elizabeth’s School: A Specialist Sports College The Participatory Process at Queen Elizabeth’s School There has been a consultation period in which a range of school stakeholders participated in meetings for the new building design. With regard to youth participation, the aim has been to enhance students’ engagement in different areas of the project, from sustainability issues to the design of the new building and involve them at every stage.

4. Queen Elizabeth’s School: A Specialist Sports College Activities: Groups have worked alongside the project team on real project issues and with some extent of decision-making power. Design Festival Workshops: The series of activities organised within 2 Design Festivals in May 2006 and June 2007. School staff and students supported the process of designing the brief. The workshop was facilitated by School-Works.

4. Queen Elizabeth’s School: A Specialist Sports College Shadow groups continuing through build process: Sustainability Construction Project management Arts