The document discusses launching a new campaign called "Safeseats of Learning" to urge furniture manufacturers, specifiers, and education professionals to work together to improve school furniture. It notes that school furniture has not significantly developed or changed in 50 years and is often chosen based primarily on price over design or ergonomics. Speakers at the launch event called for innovation in school furniture design to better support learning, protect children's health by reducing back pain, and accommodate different body sizes as children grow. They argued that improved furniture could enhance both the learning and teaching environments in schools.

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.”