Labour Calls on Government to Rethink Flat Pack schools After Conservatives Release James Review.

Kevin Brennan

Kevin Brennan, Shadow Minister for Schools, today stated:

‘the building environment of a school is important for learning. Good design doesn’t have to be expensive. It’s about innovation and creativity. Michael Gove seems happy for children to learn in completely unsuitable buildings.’

He was backed by RIBA, Design Council Cabe and former architecture minister Alan Howarth.

This is after the Conservative party released the James Review last week to defend their position on mass produced schools. The report states that massive savings can be achieved by mass producing components and using a single design theme. It states that a ‘suite of drawings and specifications should be developed that can easily be applied across a wide range of projects.’

The James Report states that only a few large companies should still be given a ‘small number of new national procurement contracts, instead of a more competitive system of smaller packages.

However, the Report also calls for a rolling system where 20% of schools are surveyed every year to see what their renovation requirements are. The individual institutions should then be allocated a small amount of funding to support minor repairs to be carried out by whoever the institution sees fit.

We tend to agree that good school design, including the external environment, does not necessarily have to be expensive. It does, however, have to be suitable for the location and the end users (children, teachers visitors, deliveries, etc) and fit for purpose. Elements of the school design may be suitable for ‘mass production’, but certainly not all. Design standards and Building Bulletins have their role to play in informing school design. The arrangement and juxtaposition of elements within the school environment is critical to the smooth functioning of a school. It is absolutely critical that a professional designers and consultants are employed to carry out and co-ordinate this service. Making savings by not adequately employing these professionals can only be detrimental to the quality of the final out put, both school and pupil.