Rebuilding Six Schools in Newcastle

Newcastle LEA asked School Works to involve pupils, parents and the local community in designing schools within Newcastle LEA's second round PFI project in September 2003. The participatory process was completed in early December with the outcomes report produced in early January. It is now expected that school building work will start by mid-2005 and take about two years to complete.

Participating schools were:

• West Jesmond Primary
• Stocksfield Avenue Primary
• Walkergate Primary
• Kenton Secondary
• Canning Street Secondary
• Walker Technology College

Newcastle Inspirational Tour

The tour involved 120 pupils, staff and other key stakeholders with separate events for primary and secondary schools. The itinerary began with Newcastle ’s Centre for Life, moved down to the Quayside to the Crown Court and the Pitcher and Piano Cafe, before crossing the Millennium Bridge to the Baltic Art Gallery.

The Centre for Life

Baltic Art Gallery

Millenium Bridge

Design Festival

40 half-day workshops were held over two days. On day one, workshops were a mix of participants from all the schools and day two workshops were school specific. The festival was held at the Newcastle Springfield Centre, an old school that is now an LEA run conference and meeting facility.

Using ICT

Sharing ideas

Expressing views

 

What did we learn?

Some of the key priorities for the new school included:

Space Management

Participants wanted to be given spaces that they could call their own, where they could sit and rest or play, and where they felt safe and secure. Participants recognised a need for spaces to suit different tastes; - places to be quiet; places to play sports; places to listen to music. There was also a desire for spaces to be well managed in order to minimise queuing and bullying. Current trouble hot-spots for particular attention were playgrounds and other outside spaces, toilets and corridors.

An idea for a library space

 

Vision and Values

Pupils wanted the new schools to be modern, inspiring and welcoming, with warm and bright colours, while reflecting the history of the schools being replaced.

Time capsule bricks capturing school history

School identity

 

Outdoor spaces

Pupils wanted interesting spaces that could be used all year round, livened up by sculptures or other features to stimulate activity. External spaces should be used to reflect and value the past, for example by using old brick or retaining existing garden areas.

3D imaging

Exploring priorities

 

Circulation

Corridors and the way people moved around the school were important. Pupils wanted wide, bright corridors with good visibility.

Learning environment

The spaces used for learning should have interesting colours and textures, lighting and heating which can be varied, good signage, and easy access to drinking water.

Participants had clear ideas about colours