Dulux Trade demonstrates how a little time and investment can go a long way to transforming a school
From corridors to classrooms, decoration is not only a highly effective way to transform the learning environment, it can also be an extremely cost efficient one. However, the decoration or redecoration of a school can often prove to be a daunting task because a solution must be selected which not only creates an environment that engages students and inspires learning, but also makes both environmental and financial sense.
The effective use of colour in conjunction with good design may also help students and teachers feel more comfortable and secure, and in addition, as stated in the HM Government-produced 'Better Public Building': "The design of schools can promote the performance of pupils, the retention of staff and a more creative approach to teaching and learning."
A great deal of attention and debate around school design is focused on the new build and refurbishment projects coming via the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme and the Primary Capital Programme (PCP). This is right - however it needs to be recognised that some schools, and local authorities, will be waiting for years for significant capital injections. Yet even small changes can make a big impact on the school environment. This is where the Big School Makeover comes in.
The Big School Makeover
Dulux Trade knows how important it is to provide young people with a stimulating environment in which to learn, and that is why, together with Wilmot Dixon, it is supporting the British Council for School Environments' (BCSE) Big School Makeover.
The Big School Makeover initiative is a nationwide project launched to encourage teachers, parents and young people to get involved in refreshing or refurbishing key areas of their school.
The project kicked off in September 2009 and has so far seen five schools across the UK benefit from a free makeover. As part of this, Dulux Trade and Wilmot Dixon worked with the BCSE, regional architectural firms, pupils and staff on design plans and implementation in a selection of spaces within these five schools. From classrooms to cloakrooms, the makeovers saw the transformation of a wide range of learning and social areas, and - as well as redecoration - included a revamp of the electrics, flooring and furnishings to create the completed looks.
An important element of the Big School Makeover was the involvement of students in the design process. Transforming the learning environment really can add colour to the lives of the people who use it. Research also suggests that students perform better in spaces with which they feel a connection, and that this is strengthened if an individual feels that they have a measure of control over it. Involving both pupils and teachers in the makeover process was therefore a key part of the programme.
With this in mind, prior to each makeover, an engagement day was held with the students and teachers to establish the objectives of each project and ensure that their views and ideas were incorporated in to the final design. Specialist colour consultants from Dulux Trade also provided support to the schools ahead of the makeovers and were on-site to help out during the transformations with practical advice, as well as providing supplies. The five schools to benefit from the initial stage of this project were Portslade Community College in Brighton, Plymouth Grove Primary School in Manchester, The Grove School in Cambridge, Percy Main Junior School in North Tyneside and Bridgerule Primary School in Devon.
Case study 1: Portslade Community College, Brighton
Portslade Community College in Brighton was the first school to take part in the Big School Makeover and selected the dining hall for the makeover. Situated at the back of the school, it was an unwelcoming and uninspiring room and students rarely went there to eat their lunch. The school was keen to inject some life into the space and have the room functioning properly.
The students selected an 'oasis' theme for the space and through careful paint specification by the Dulux Trade colour consultants, the team of decorators from James Angus Painting and Decorating were able to create a room which achieved the design objectives. A range of Dulux Trade products were specified for use on the ceilings, walls and floors including Dulux Trade Diamond Eggshell, Diamond Matt and Ecosure Gloss and Undercoat, all in a variety of colours.
The Diamond range - which was used on the walls and ceilings - is not only ten times tougher than vinyl silk emulsion, it also offers a hardwearing finish that is resistant to common stains and is easy to clean. Therefore, it was the ideal choice for a school building which sees a high volume of traffic and requires a robust wall covering. In addition, paints in the Diamond range are water-based, which means they are low-odour and quick-drying, making it safer for students to be around during a school refurbishment project, as well as minimising downtime. The range includes Dulux Trade Diamond Matt, Diamond Eggshell and Diamond Satinwood, with over 10,000 shades to choose from. The Ecosure Gloss system was used on all metal and woodwork including the doors, skirtings and radiators. The water-based paints in the Ecosure range deliver genuine sustainability improvements, while maintaining the highest performance standards.
Ecosure Water-based Gloss, for example, not only has 30 per cent less embodied carbon than standard Dulux Trade Gloss system but also has 78% less VOC (volatile organic compounds) content.* What's more, all Ecosure paint cans are made of a minimum of 25 per cent recycled material and with the increasing pressure on schools and local authorities to become more sustainable, it was an ideal product choice for this project.
The redecoration of the hall, supplemented by the pupils' art work, combined to instill a sense of pride and joy within the space. The inclusion of suitable furniture, fittings and graphics exude a professional feel with a real sense of place, creating flexible spaces to work, relax and eat.
Case study 2: Plymouth Grove Primary School, Manchester
Plymouth Grove Primary School is a 103 year old Victorian building based in the suburbs of Manchester and faces many of the typical problems associated with old buildings, such as, damp, uneven flooring and damaged plasterwork. Consisting of three floors and two mezzanine levels, many sections of the building are unsuited for the rigors of modern education.
Headteacher Mike Cooke, identified two spaces in the school 'unfit for the 21st Century'. The first was a sizeable but rundown and dark cloakroom which was only in use for approximately 20 minutes per day. A recent survey about bullying at the school found this area was identified as somewhere children felt most vulnerable. It was proposed that this should area should be transformed into a library.
The second space was the Old Kiln Room, which was previously being used as a storage space. The school decided that this space could be better used as a flexible learning space. A range of Dulux Trade products, in a variety of colours, were specified for use in the cloakroom and the old kiln room, including Dulux Trade Diamond Matt, Ecosure Water-based Gloss and products in the Light & Space colour range.
The Light & Space colour range by Dulux Trade makes rooms look and feel more spacious using groundbreaking Lumitec paint technology. Light & Space colours distribute light more effectively around the room by utilising the range's high Light Reflectance Value (LRV). The paint reflects more light off the walls, giving the rooms a brighter and more spacious appearance - making Light & Space colours perfectly suited for use in the dark rooms at Plymouth Grove Primary School.
Once the paint had been specified, a team of professional tradesmen from Dulux Trade Contract Partner, Dave Luck Ltd, worked tirelessly over three days to transform the two rooms. As a Dulux Trade Contract Partner based in Manchester, Dave Luck Ltd was approached to be involved in the Big School Makeover to ensure the decoration carried out would be of the highest possible standard.
Dulux Trade Contractor Partnership promotes quality workmanship and business practices among painting contractors all over the country, and operates a rigorous independent assessment process and regular benchmarking exercises for its members.
The team from Dave Luck Ltd, together with a number of third parties, worked on the former cloakroom to divide into three open library zones - a group work area where pupils can view films and documentaries; a rainbow reading area complete with beanbags; and a quieter individual learning zone with self modular seating and sofas. In addition to new carpets, lighting and furniture, the pupils' favourite quotes and key inspirational words were painted on the walls, creating a bright, welcoming and inspiring place.
The old kiln room - or 'The Works' as it's now named - was painted in a soft pastel blue to create a calming environment, and is now a welcoming classroom with a variety of seating and storage to enable group and individual learning to take place.
The makeover has transformed the Plymouth Grove Primary School and generated a real sense of community involvement. Commenting on the transformation, Mike Cooke said: "The great thing about the Big School Makeover was just how involved the children were in it. I think that's the key to any sort of development that goes on. The project really has raised expectations about what can be achieved inside an old building." Where next for the Big School Makeover?
Schools' Minister Vernon Coaker took time out from the Labour Party Conference to visit Portslade Community College during the makeover and had some positive things to say about the work and the importance of smaller projects like this. When discussing the huge government investment in school buildings he commented: "We need to ensure that alongside the huge sum of money, we look at the small things that can be done to improve the learning environment as well. Young people of this country, the teachers of this country, the communities of this country deserve good school buildings."
All of the five initial makeovers have been extremely successful, however this is just the start of a year round programme of events, activities and competitions to encourage and mobilise pupils, staff, schools, local authorities and other organisations across the education, design and construction sectors to make a real difference to school environments.
* *Lower environmental impact is measured by a reduction in VOC and embodied carbon. Using the Gloss and Undercoat as a two-coat system reduces the embodied carbon by 30% compared to standard Dulux Trade High Gloss and Undercoat, as measured by an Environmental Impact Analyser, which has been developed in conjunction with the Forum for the Future - the leading sustainable development charity. Compared with Dulux Trade solvent-based variants as the market is over 85% solvent-based and 98% for gloss specifically.