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Designs for Learning....transforming learning spaces for education
23rd March 2010 The American School, London NW8
Two thirds of the school estate is outside space, yet 80% of teachers believe their school is failing to maximise its potential. This conference will bring together the diverse perspectives of all those involved in school capital programmes -including local authority programme teams, architects, landscape architects, school leadership teams and advisors.
The day is a unique opportunity to hear from students and teachers about what works outdoors; to discuss award winning designs with landscape architects and question those setting the agenda for capital programmes. You’ll also get to take away tried and tested tools, good practice, tips, techniques and inspiration.
Conference highlights:
- How to maximise educational impact with minimal investment
- Practical guidance on the key components of great school grounds.
- Find out what CABE and PfS really want from outside spaces.
- Inspiration from Scandinavia
- Hear first hand from teenagers what really gets them going outdoors!
HEAR FROM THOSE SETTING THE AGENDA:
MORNING - why school grounds matter
Jonathon Porritt, LTL Patron
The importance of developing the whole child and reconnecting children with the natural world. Jonathon’s talk will focus on the imperative for schools to engage children in natural systems and sustainable development.
Robin Hammerton, HMI, Ofsted
Learning Outside the Classroom produces better academic outcomes for children as well as supporting personal development. Robin will present the evidence and address some myths about Ofsted inspections
Teacher:Lesley Ellis and students from The Sydney Russell School, Dagenham
Hear teachers and students talk about experiences of taking learning outdoors that dispel the myth that teenagers don’t like getting outdoors
AFTERNOON - The role of design
Introduction: Mukund Patel, LTL Trustee
Tim Byles, CEO Partnership for Schools
The importance of good school grounds to children, to schools and to the capital programmes. Tim will talk about some of the encouraging signs, and his expectations of the programme to come
John Eachus, Landscape Architect, Colour Urban Design Ltd
The skills of designer
* How landscape architecture can support learning and play
* Indoor and outdoor space linkages
* Understanding and supporting the design needs of the school/local authority
* The fun in engaging children on the outdoor stuff
Richard Simmons, CEO CABE
Reimagining outdoor spaces. Richard will talk about the school grounds designs that are coming through the CABE Design Review process and CABE’s aspirations for the capital programmes.
Workshops:
In keeping with LTL’s ethos, these workshops will be practical and supported by real-life examples.
Workshop 1: The school’s perspective
How educational principles inform the design brief. How can transformational ways of teaching be supported through the external environment? This workshop will look at putting theory into practice.
Workshop 2: The role of the commissioning authority
How can a commissioning authority ensure their schools get the best possible grounds and buildings? This workshop looks at how one authority developed its documentation to ensure successful outdoor spaces for its children.
Workshop 3: Beyond formal sport and PE
Liz Delany from PfS will help participants think beyond sports courts and pitches to a range of developments outside can support active play and participation for students.
Workshop 4: Tools and techniques for pupil engagement.
In this workshop participants will try out practical techniques for engaging pupils in the process of designing and developing their grounds.
Workshop 5: Learning from Scandinavia
Scandinavian schools have a reputation for using their outdoors ‘whatever the weather’. In this workshop we will hear directly about their experiences and learn from their ideas.
Summary and conclusion Catherine Andrews, Chief Executive of LTL
Conference prices:
- Local authority & private practices £299 +VAT (£351.33)
- Schools & voluntary sector £249 +VAT (292.58)
sponsored by
Enhancing outside learning environments can transform outcomes for young people. In LTL surveys of schools who have made improvements to their external environments:
- 78% of teachers reported a change in teaching practice, 2/3rds observed improved attitudes to learning among their pupils.
- 73% reported that behaviour had improved, 64% claimed reduced bullying and 84% observed improved social interaction.
- 88% said it resulted in more creative learning and environmental awareness.
“Well-designed outdoor spaces can help transform a school into something extraordinary.
‘There’s a lot of talk about how we now treat our gardens as outdoor rooms, and we are seeing this come through in school designs too. One BSF schools is creating outdoor zones with appropriate planting and equipment for everything from poetry reading and yoga, to geography, science experiments and learning how to grow vegetables.
‘Landscape design is not an afterthought in BSF”.
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