Furniture

1. School furniture has not developed in 50 yearsandmust do
urgentlytoaidlearningandprotectchildren, delegates at a
newcampaignlaunchhavebeentold.
A calltoaction, Safeseats of learning, urgedspecifiers,
manufacturersandeducationprofessionalstoworktogethertoensurechildren can
enjoyandbenefitfrommuchbetterenvironments, whichwouldaidbothlearningandteaching, reducethe risk of
recurrentbackpainandrecognisethedifferentshapesandsizes of growingyoungsters.
Introducingthelaunchevent, HaydenDavies, ManagingDirector of FIRA International
[FurnitureIndustryResearchAssociation], saidpricewastheoverwhelmingfactorwhichcurrentlydictatedthepurchase
of furnitureused in mostschools, whichcontrastswitheveryotherarea of thefurnitureindustry.
“School furniture has basicdesignand minimal development,” he said. “Inallotherareas,
designinnovationdrivesfurnituresales. But in mostschools, furniture has not changedfor 50 years – how
manypeoplehavethesamekitchenthey had 50 yearsago?”
KeynotespeakerTyGoddard, Director of the British Councilfor School Environments [BCSE] told a
capacityaudience at London’sRoyalSociety of Artsthatthe BCSE had become an organisation of 300 members in
thepasttwoyears, andurgedthosepresentto form a similarcoalitiontosupportthecaseforgreatfurniture in schools.
“FIRA has produced a documentwhich is socomplex in itssimplicity, andsosimple in itscomplexitythat it can
reallyhelpmake a difference. Hugechanges in educationsuch as personalisedlearning,
schoolsforthecommunityandtheChildren’s Plan willhavesignificantimplicationsforeducationalspaceplanning,
and Safeseats of learning is a clarioncallforchange. Weneedthesamekind of campaignagainstturkeytwizzler-
typeschoolfurniture as therewasagainst Turkey twizzler-typeschoolfood,
andthisaccessiblediscussionpaperwillhelpmakethathappen.
“Poorergonomicdesignaffectshandwriting, concentrationandthe general well-being of pupils. Furniture can do
somuchmorethan it is currentlygivencreditfor; goodergonomicdesigncreates a sense of ownershipandrespect.”
AlisonWadsworth, Senior Designer at theDepartmentforChildren, Schools andFamilies,
saidLocalEducationAuthoritiesarebeingallocated an average of around £10m tospend on
furnitureandequipmentundertheBuilding Schools fortheFutureprogramme of refurbishment in secondaryschools.
“Schools oftenfocus on equipment as it is assumedthere is a direct link tolearningandtherefore, ultimately, results,
but weneedtogetthemessageacrossthatfurnitureplays a bigpart in theenvironmentandthelearningexperience; it is
just as important as equipment, buildingsandotherlearningresources.”