Can primary schools adapt to a post-lockdown world?
11.05.2020
Can primary schools adapt to a post-lockdown world?
We talk with the Architects Journal and other education specialists about practical solutions.
Together with dRMM we examine design considerations and long-term ideas for school design:
- More outdoor learning through external classrooms – greater consideration of the principles of forest schools, particularly for younger children.
- Increase physical exercise so that children are healthier. Promote exercise outside rather than in internal space.
- ‘A school without doors’ – minimise the number of doors while all corridor doors should hold open to minimise wear and tear, and avoid unnecessary touching of handles.
- Lockers should be distributed throughout the school, or could be external.
- Design out toilet areas doors to minimise touching of handles and to minimise bullying.
- Improve ventilation. Increase air flow through passive ventilation.
- Learn from the hospital sector in selecting materials and surfaces that are easier to clean and don’t support bacteria and viruses.
- Increase numbers of maintenance and cleaning staff to ensure that surfaces are cleaned constantly.
