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School grounds

School grounds can be an excellent space for learning, relaxing, socialising and being physically active.  Young people spend up to seven hours in the playground a week. As such, outside spaces deserve an equal amount of attention during the design process as those within the school building itself. 

School grounds need to cater for kids with different interests.   Some people may just want to sit down and have a chat, whilst others burn off energy running around or playing games like football.  Different spaces can accommodate these needs; open spaces invite team games to be played, whilst sectioned off benches and low walls invite sitting and talking.  In this way spaces can be compartmentalised but not in such a way that stifles creativity by making each space too bounded and regulated in its use.

As with inside the school it is best to avoid hidden spaces as bullying or vandalism may well take place there.  Research by Learning Through Landscapes shows that good outdoor areas reduce bullying:

"During 2003 Learning through Landscapes conducted research amongst 350 schools across the country which had taken steps to improve their school grounds during the previous 4 years. Of the schools surveyed 65% believed that school grounds improvements had increased overall attitudes to learning and 52% said they had seen an improvement in academic achievement. The schools also said they had experienced considerable improvements in behaviour (73%) as well as a significant reduction in bullying (64%) and improved social interaction (84%) The research also highlighted increases in children enjoying and having fun in their grounds (90%) and improvements in active play and games (85%)"

To find out more, read the 16 September 2004 article from www.rbs.com   

The layout and design of school grounds needs to ensure that teachers will use outside spaces, for example, when moving from one part of the school to another.  As they pass through, teachers can keep an eye on what is occurring in the playground.  This is more likely to occur if there is a central atrium to the school.  Darlington Education Village is an example of a school, just about to open, that has been built around a 'village green'.  This helps to foster a sense of community as people converge around a centre point. 

Visit www.educationvillage.org.uk/ for more details. 

Having indoor or covered court yards for wet weather may be useful as they allow pupils to get some exercise without getting soaked!  These could also be a focus point at the 'heart' of the school, helping to foster communication between pupils.  In summer they provide a shaded area for people to be during hot weather.

The school needs to look inviting to pupils and guests.  The way that the school entrance is designed and the area outside of it landscaped is very important.  It should lead people into the school, rather than looking intimidating or unfriendly.  Entrances should be obvious and easy to find.  The way that pupils enter the school should be equally pleasant and inviting as the visitors' entrance.

The school grounds can help promote healthy living and understanding of the environment.  Wildlife gardens and allotments can be used as learning resources and also encourage physical activity.  The arrival and departure of buses and cars need to be well managed outside and within the school grounds.  Pupils and staff can be encouraged to walk or bike to school by providing safe places to store bikes and safe cycle and pedestrian friendly routes into the school grounds. 

Learning Through Landscapes website has resources, research and case studies about improving school grounds and the impact that can have on the whole school. 

"Grounds for Improvement:  Secondary Action Research Programme"  Oct 2004 is a research report produced by NFER and Learning Through Landscapes about improving secondary school grounds. 

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