Doorway 5: Buildings & Grounds

Doorway Five of the Sustainable Schools Strategy encourages schools to maximise their potential not only by teaching pupils about sustainable development but by using the fabric of the school to demonstrate sustainable living to pupils, staff and the wider community.

The Government wants all twenty-first century school buildings to become more sustainable and has embarked on a landmark building and renovation project to accomplish this goal.

The Building Schools for the Future programme (BSF) aims to rebuild or refurbish every secondary school in England along with many primaries and is backed by the Building and Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) for schools.

For many schools, this provides an opportunity for a more strategic approach to building design, allowing school leaders to embed sustainable principles into the heart of the building process from planning and design, to community liaison, construction and building management.

In December 2007 the Schools Secretary announced that he wants all new school buildings to be zero-carbon by 2016 and allocated funding to make school buildings more energy efficient.

The first step towards managing school buildings and grounds in a sustainable way, however, is to look at the facilities and structures currently in place and consider how they can be improved and made more sustainable.

This section looks at simple steps that schools can take to maximise the potential of their buildings and grounds.

The Building Research Establishment (BRE) explains how it can guide schools through the complexities of designing, building, refurbishing and managing their school premises whilst Treescape Arboricultural Consultants discuss how schools can improve their grounds through the effective management of trees.

In This Section

Building Research Establishment (BRE) - Creating and Operating Sustainable Schools
The Building Research Establishment (BRE) explains the importance of well-built, sustainable school buildings and highlights the benefits of the Sustainable Learning Programme.

Treescape Arboriculture Consulants - Effective Tree Management
Robin Swan, principal of Treescape Arboricultural Consultants and Technicians, outlines the principles of good tree management and explains how schools can improve their outdoor areas whilst keeping costs low.