RIBA president Ruth Reed says government must safeguard pupilsβ needs
The Royal Institute of British Architects has warned the James Reviewβs recommendations for school design are a threat to education standards.
RIBA president Ruth Reed called on the government to reject the James Reviewβs βover-simplisticβ approach to school design.
The review of education capital spending by Sebastian James recommends future school buildings should be based on a single set of standardised designs and specifications, sparking fears of βflatpackβ schools.
Ruth Reed said: βWe urge the government to recognise the complexities in delivering the best new school buildings possible and to reject the over-simplistic approach recommended by the James review.
βThis is not about more work for architects; it is about ensuring the best outcomes for school users and best value for money for the taxpayer.
βThe James Review recognises the wastage that took place through ΠΤ°Ι΅ηΜ¨ Schools for the Future (BSF), but over-emphasises as a solution the role of standardisation in school design.
βThere is certainly a case for the standardisation of certain elements of a school building, but the review fails to recognise that a school which is βfit for purposeβ must meet the needs of its client.
βThe housing minister, Grant Shapps, recently quite rightly condemned the identikit housing estates that are being churned out up and down the country, and we would be concerned if the pattern-book mass housing delivery model were endorsed by the education secretary, Michael Gov,e and applied to schools, which work best when they respond to the needs of students, teachers and the context of a site.β
Following the governmentβs response to the James Review. The 60 page report includes analysis of proposed procurement, design and regulatory changes as well as local authorities with the biggest shortage of school places and much more
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