Crumbling schools plagued by leaks and cold, BBC finds

[Disease]

I do agree it has a lot to do with how the school is run we've always spent whatever money is needed on fixing roofs etc but other schools down the road have left things to completely rot and then ended up getting new buildings/extensions/whole new schools eventually.

 

We're stuck with the 1960s school as it's not bad enough to demolish so are we shooting ourselves (and our pupils) in the foot by trying to keep everything maintained should we just give up and wait for the LEA to get involved?

 

It's a sad state of affairs when strategically, long term, we're better off doing a really bad job rather than a really good one :/

 

 

To be fair I don't see how a new building improves learning over a well maintained old building, I mean aside from the technology these days what does a teacher need to teach, a space that is sufficient for the size of the classes, tables, chairs and materials. if the room is clean and bright what advantage does a new build give. We have had a rolling program over the last 5 years to replace all the lighting in the school to daylight LED lighting so everywhere is bright, which is a PITA for projectors I might add.

[Andrew_C]

Improve learning?

 

 

Maybe not, but cheaper to heat, easier to maintain, better circulation, more comfortable - these are all possible, but, I accept, not guaranteed.

[PotNoodleTech]

To be fair I don't see how a new building improves learning over a well maintained old building, I mean aside from the technology these days what does a teacher need to teach, a space that is sufficient for the size of the classes, tables, chairs and materials. if the room is clean and bright what advantage does a new build give. We have had a rolling program over the last 5 years to replace all the lighting in the school to daylight LED lighting so everywhere is bright, which is a PITA for projectors I might add.

 

There's plenty of evidence around that having a new modern nice well heated well ventilated area improves many outcomes, not a straight +1 grade increase but just a general improvement in many areas e.g. wellbeing behavior etc. even just the new paint colour etc can make differences.

 

You would more than likely be happier and more productive in a brand new state of the art, dry, warm house, as opposed to in a horrible old cold dark full o damp and mold and rats, house? That's an over-exaggerated example....but..

[Disease]

There's plenty of evidence around that having a new modern nice well heated well ventilated area improves many outcomes, not a straight +1 grade increase but just a general improvement in many areas e.g. wellbeing behavior etc. even just the new paint colour etc can make differences.

 

You would more than likely be happier and more productive in a brand new state of the art, dry, warm house, as opposed to in a horrible old cold dark full o damp and mold and rats, house? That's an over-exaggerated example....but..

 

But my point being that if the old building is well decorated and maintained it should make no difference, the students only see the 4 walls inside when learning so as long as its well kept and not Dark, dingy and full of mold and rats there should be no difference.

[Andrew_C]

The best bits of my science block were built in 1905. We're really comparing knackered old* buildings, and new shiny ones.

 

 

*Not even that old in many cases.

[DrBeaker]

But my point being that if the old building is well decorated and maintained it should make no difference, the students only see the 4 walls inside when learning so as long as its well kept and not Dark, dingy and full of mold and rats there should be no difference.

 

There's also plenty of reports and evidence that some 'new build' schools are far worse than the ones they've replaced.

 

Large open spaces means too much noise, loads of wasted space etc. e.g.

 

https://nation.cymru/news/new-school-plagued-with-behavioural-issues-not-fit-for-purpose-teachers-union/

 

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/education/executive-head-crisis-hit-pencoedtre-28457650