RIBA’s new report into the state of school buildings, Better Spaces for Learning reveals: 1 in 5 teachers have considered quitting because of the wretched condition of the school buildings they have to teach in The Government’s Education Funding Agency’s new school building programme is too rigid and is leading to waste and poor value for tax payers Over 90% of teachers believe well-built and designed schools improve educational outcomes and pupil behaviour Over-engineered schools, with Government-specified equipment that only costly consultants know how to operate, is costing £150 million per year which could have been avoided if schools were designed better A new report on the state of school buildings in the UK has been published today (Wednesday 11 May) by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Using the largest ever analysis of primary and secondary school buildings in the UK, a nation-wide poll of teachers, and extensive engagement with school buildings experts, RIBA’s Better Spaces for Learning report makes the case for an urgent review of the Government’s Education Funding Agency’s current school building programme. The report emphasises the importance of well-designed school buildings on young people’s wellbeing, behaviour engagement and crucially, attainment. RIBA has identified that good school design can reduce running and maintenance costs, in some cases by more than several times a teacher’s average salary a year; it could have prevented the English school estate from spending upwards of £150m annually on unnecessary operation and maintenance costs. The new report is further insight into the Government’s own assertion that just 5% of the nearly 60,000 school buildings across the UK are performing as intended and operating efficiently.* The prevalence of damp, leaky classrooms and asbestos-ridden buildings in British schools means too many pupils and teachers are struggling to learn and teach in conditions damaging to their health and education. Better Spaces for Learning reveals that the Government’s current programme of building new schools is inefficient – with a lack of flexibility to make the best possible use of resources, and little opportunity for school staff to input into the design of their own new buildings. RIBA believes that the Government programme must be improved to guarantee better outcomes for our public money. RIBA President Jane Duncan said: “This country is in the grip of the worst shortage of school places in living memory. Our report highlights the vital importance of school design and how it affects the general health and wellbeing of their users, our children and their teachers. As limited funding is available to deal with the growing problem, every penny spent on schools must deliver maximum value for money. Award winning well-designed, successful schools with happy pupils and productive staff like Burntwood School in London shouldn’t be the exception, they should be the standard. “How can we expect our children to compete with the world’s best when too many of our school buildings are substandard? Educational improvements resulting from the current programme of school building are not reaching the basic standards that British taxpayers and our economy expects. We need to do better for all of our children and their hardworking teachers. We urge the Government to review its programme of building new schools.”

One of Leicestershire’s most impressive property schemes triumphed over 43 of the East Midland’s region’s most innovative projects to gain top honors at this year’s RICS Awards, East Midlands. Smallman & Son received the award for their Soft Touch Arts refurbishment project which received the Community Benefit Award at this year’s prestigious ceremony.  Soft Touch Arts generates a multipurpose space for helping and inspiring disadvantaged young people through the use of arts, music and media. Alexandra Kowalczuk, Head of Business Development at Smallman and Son Ltd, said “We are absolutely delighted to win this award, and we would like to thank all those involved who worked with us on this refurbishment project. It was a great team effort and one that we thoroughly enjoyed working on. We share this with RG+P the Architects who we worked closely with and all the Team at Soft Touch. We have always felt very passionate about the Soft Touch Project and by winning this award it has just made it even more special!” Chair of RICS East Midlands judging panel, Will Evans FRICS, said “Soft Touch Arts impressed the judges with the enthusiastic approach to shaping a community and building long term relationships, ensuring the longevity of their project. Working in the heart of Leicester the project combats anti-social behaviour and gives a sense of pride and purpose to those in the community. By transforming an old derelict car garage into a hub for youth across the city provides valuable life skills to all those who interact with the project.” Chris Wigmore, Business Development Director at Soft Touch said, “Soft Touch is so delighted to win this award in partnership with Smallman & Son and rg+p.    It’s been 5 long hard years of fundraising, planning and making partnerships to make it happen and winning the award was the icing on the cake for all of us.   We have created an amazing creative resource for young people in Leicester, now and for the future.  I think the judges were impressed not only with our achievements in making the project happen, but the fact that we had involved young people in the design and that both rg+p and Smallman & Son have continued to support the charity right through from sponsoring events to becoming business ambassadors to help our sustainability and as mentors for our young people”     Christina Wigmore, Business Development Director Robert Woolston, Director at RG+P the Architects said, “We have really enjoyed having the opportunity to work with Soft Touch, who do such a great job.” The Soft Touch refurbishment project will now go through to the national RICS awards held in October at the Hilton Park Lane.