Teachers’ views on the designs of their primary schools

Abstract

Based on a cross-case analysis of five primary schools, this article highlights, and discusses in context, the views of the teachers regarding the physical environment and facilities of their schools. Participants rated questions about what made for a ‘comfortable built environment’ and a ‘well-functioning spaces’, whereas the researchers examined and compared the spaces and spoke to heads and to the pupils. Although overall teachers rate their schools only ‘adequate’, indicating significant room for improvement, there is significant variation on specific issues. Contributions to how better schools can be created are provided through some unexpected views, either around received wisdom or in areas where no firm view exists in the literature. In conclusion the teachers’ views are compared with those of pupils at the same schools, indicating the need for creative solutions from designers.

Keywords:

• design
• comfort
• function
• primary schools
• teachers’ view

Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to Manchester City Council for supporting and facilitating this study. We would also like to express our gratitude to the staff of the schools, and especially their heads, for their enthusiastic engagement with this research. Through this work we hope that we are able to give their informed views more exposure, with beneficial effects on the design and adaptation of school buildings in the future.