Property

Keeping up with the Joneses

Despite cuts to building budgets, some refurbishment should be done, argues Robert Bruce, as independent schools face the challenge of keeping up with government-funded improvements in local maintained schools

One of the many newly emerging challenges to face independent schools is how best to balance the increasing need to compete with the level of high quality facilities introduced in local maintained schools, while reducing outgoings and maintaining fees at an affordable level.

Much is being made of the effects of a prolonged recession on reducing the number of applications to independent schools, with reports suggesting that parents are considering good local state education as a viable alternative.

The Building Schools for the Future programme has seen considerable investment in maintained schools. The current official stance is that spending is set to continue. This creates a dilemma for independent schools to ensure that their own facilities match up.

With spending under close scrutiny, it is unrealistic to think that investment can be made in a like-for-like manner: however, there are a number of cost-efficient measures that can be taken so that your buildings reflect the high standards of your educational facilities.

First impressions
Parents invest a lot in researching the options before deciding where they send their children. First impressions are important and a key part of attracting new pupils. The elements that parents notice when looking at a school are the outside of the buildings and the reception area. It therefore makes sense that particular attention is paid to making them look fresh.

At the most basic level, redecorating every five years can make a difference, but for schools looking to make more of an impression, then consider updating your signage to make it clearly visible or installing a new corporate-style reception area.

Safety and security
Take steps to reassure parents by improving the lighting around the school perimeter, installing CCTV and updating access points with lockable gates and digital-code entry pads. Some schools are offering new high-tech swipe cards for gates in the reception area (helps to regulate visitors) that also carry a pre-payment feature for use in the café.

Classrooms
Creating the right learning environment is important too. Parents expect to see clean and fresh spaces for their children to work in. Classroom refurbishment can be quick and can transform the look of the school. Removing strip lighting and replacing it with modern, energy-efficient lights will immediately improve the look of the room. Installing double glazing and ceiling insulation will help control the temperature and replacing hard flooring with carpets will improve the acoustics.

Within sixth form education in particular, there is a growing trend in the integration of personal laptops for pupils. Small changes to the services facilities will allow for laptop-charging units and multi-function network access points throughout the school in libraries, study rooms, common rooms and classrooms.

Trends in interior design are helping to attract and retain sixth form pupils. The common room is an easy place to start, making use of vibrant colours, reassessing the use of space and creating a café-culture vibe. Moveable room dividers can provide an instant option for creating a multi-purpose space.

Energy efficiency
Increasing your school’s energy efficiency can significantly reduce your outgoings, helping to pay for your refurbishment work. Options to consider can range from ensuring all radiators have thermostatic valves, to installing bio-fuel generators and replacing old inefficient kitchen equipment.

The construction industry is currently a competitive marketplace and now is a good time to consider refurbishment and renovation works. Careful tendering can prove extremely cost-effective. Rather than looking at tenders on a project-by-project basis, put together a plan of works and tender them all at once.

The benefits of having a building that inspires its users could protect your school’s future.

Robert Bruce is a partner at building and property consultant Tuffin Ferraby Taylor LLP.

Return to Property