Design five schools in six hours? No problem

For a unique school design challenge, the Association for Learning Environments (UK) – A4LE(UK) got together with the University of Westminster’s School of Architecture and Cities.
The one-day event – Designing Spaces for Future Focused Schools – brought together architects, designers, educationalists, teachers, researchers and students to design new “learning zones” in the context of an all-
through school.
Five teams taking part in this event were invited to respond to an innovative “learning brief” from two serving headteachers for a primary learning zone and a secondary transition zone for the first two years of UK
secondary education. It defined the pedagogy, curriculum and organisational approach that is required for 21st century learning.

A4LE(UK) believes that better learning environments are created by bringing all the key players together from the earliest design stages. This approach is the best way to create the variety of learning settings needed for schools to develop young people’s skills for the future. The day was facilitated by Michál Cohen, Alastair Blyth and Terry White.