The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has responded to the Education Funding Agency's (EFA) plans for standardising the design and construction of future schools.
The RIBA is seriously concerned that the proposed 'flat-pack' approach is inflexible and will deprive students and teachers of quality environments that are proven to support teaching and learning.
RIBA President Angela Brady said: “Our students, teachers and local communities deserve great schools - environments that are beneficial to the best-quality teaching and learning. In these times of austerity of course we need to cut our cloth on all spending; however, the government's proposals for the design and construction of future schools are far too restrictive with too much focus on short-term savings.
“Improvements must be made to the proposals to make sure that the schools we build now will suit the future generations of children that will learn in them, and deliver what the community needs in the longer term.”
The RIBA five key concerns over the government's approach to 'Baseline Design' are: a failure to create functional spaces for excellent teaching; not ensuring discipline and student wellbeing; ignoring the safeguarding of environmental comfort; disregarding statutory requirements for accessibility and inclusion; and not delivering long-term sustainability and value.
While the RIBA continues to welcome the government's objectives of achieving increased value for money and identifying ways to rationalise the complex process of design and construction, the institute is calling on improvements to be made the 'Baseline Design' proposals.
The suggested improvements include school designs be subject to independent review by recognised local education practitioners and school leaders to establish their ability to support excellent teaching and meet future community needs. It also supports the development of the baseline designs take full account of the statutory requirements for access and the current guidance on designing for students and staff with physical impairments and other disabilities, including sensory and other 'invisible' impairments.
In addition, the RIBA maintains that clients and schools receive expert advice from qualified and experienced design professionals on the quality and functionality of any contractor's proposals using the baseline design.
