EXCEPTIONALEDUCATIONFACILITIES

145SCHOOL PROJECTS

THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A CLASSROOM

IMPACTS ON THE LEARNING PROGRESS OF PUPILS

BY AS MUCH AS 16%*

WRITTEN BY CHAWTON HILL

EDUCATION

* SOURCE: PROFESSOR PETER BARRETT - HOLISTIC EVIDENCE AND DESIGN

SURVEYED AREA

220,500 SQ M

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School Design

Improves Learning

A school design that’s full of natural light, has good air quality, good

acoustics, comfortable temperature control and enough space to allow for

a range of activities will have a positive outcome on student’s results.

However, policy can often emphasise quantitative evidence over

qualitative, so it was good to find a piece of research conducted last year by

Professor Peter Barrett entitled, Holistic Evidence and Design which put a

figure on how the physical characteristics of a classroom impacts on the

learning progress of pupils. That figure is 16%! Whilst there is no denying

the many factors that contributes to raising educational attainment in

schools, including great teaching, this research demonstrates good learning

environments play a significant part towards supporting staff and students

to give their best.

The independent school sector realises that to differentiate their offering

and compete against other fee paying facilities they have to invest in the

quality of their learning spaces and school design beyond baseline

specifications. This is where experience and shared knowledge plays a vital

role. The ability to agree an effective brief, maximise value and deliver a

solution that all key stakeholders are proud of is what we at Chawton Hill

do best.

We understand the pressures schools are under to deliver, to be distinctive

and maximise scarce resources. We approach projects with an ethos of

adaptability, knowing the final solution is always a development of the

initial plan. We work hard to involve all clients in the process, something

that our ISO 9001:2008 certification has had a measurable effect on. We

are particularly keen to review carefully each project – Did it deliver? Were

there areas that could have been improved? Are students and teachers

happy with the outcome?

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Its by applying this collective knowledge built up over years and hundreds of school design projects, that weare able to offer a specialist solution that minimises risks and maximises value.

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5 tips for education facilities

Photo Voltaic Cells – providing the school with reduced price energy and an attractive feed intariff rate when electricity is sold back to the electricity company

Rain Water Harvesting – collecting water from the surface water system filtering it and reusingit for ‘grey water’ purposes including whole site watering, flushing of toilets and vehicle washpurposes

Energy Monitoring Systems – providing gas and electric energy monitoring systems to recordand display the usage of energy

Water Control Systems – providing solenoid controlled water systems to turn off watersupplies to unused areas of buildings avoiding ‘dead legs’ of unused pipework and reducing therisks of leaks going unnoticed in lesser used parts of the building

Low VOC Materials – using materials that are less harmful to the environment by selecting lowVOC (Volatile Organic Compound) materials

Material Selection – selecting of locally sourced materials where ever possible to avoid longvehicle movements, higher transport costs thus reducing the carbon foot print whereverpossible

We offer exceptional value

for money.

We pride ourselves in

offering lump sum fee

quotations where requested

or percentages based upon

contract values.

Our hourly rates reflect our

competitive position in the

market place and we are

flexible in meeting particular

requirements of the client.

We always tender buildingprojects to a range of contractors

to ensure best value for money anda credible spread of figures for

discussion.

Contractors are selected for theirability to produce good quality

work and must show soundexperience of working within the

education sector, particularly howschools expects projects to be

delivered, the constraints of accessand the importance of being ableto work around occupied school

accommodation

As members of the Royal Institution of

Chartered Surveyors we have rules to follow

to ensure we avoid conflicts of interest and

always provide sound, impartial advice.

We are particularly keen to review carefully

each project – Did it deliver? Were there

areas that could have been improved? Are

students and teachers happy with the

outcome?

When specified, we have achieved BREEAM ‘Very Good’on all of our school commissions and are always lookingto incorporate effective green technologies such as;

We place paramount importanceon getting things right from the

start of every commission.

This means every project, nomatter how big or how small must

have a project delivery plan toensure that our clients know whatit is we will be doing for them and

when.

Our ISO 9001:2008 certificationmeans that we follow set and

approved procedures to enhanceour service delivery, ensuringschemes are completed in themost effective way possible.

1 2

4 53We have a proven track record in obtaining PlanningPermission for education developments in the Green Belt.

“We are extremely proud of our team andtheir efforts to attain the ISO 9001:2008certification” says Steve Holmes,Director, Chawton Hill

“It means that quality is not just aconcept, but a reality. Our policies andprocedures document that, but ourpeople show it in how they work – andparticularly in how they engage with ourcustomers.

ISO 9001 :2008 certification reflects ourcontinued commitment to quality and ourcommitment to our customers.”

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Chawton Hill AssociatesThe Small OfficeElm RoadLeatherheadSurrey KT22 8AP

info@chawtonhill.co.uk

+44 (0) 1372 360 663