In 1998, the British government announced a large investment in improving school buildings. Several private companies are involved in various stages of the project. While architects are involved in designing the physical school building and related buildings, a service design company was involved in designing how the building should function on a day-to-day basis. New methods of how to renew a public institution were embraced by the public sector.

In the next decade, 'Building Schools for the Future' (a British governmental programme) aims to see every secondary school in the country refurbished or replaced. Kingsdale School was chosen as the first school to be renewed.

An interdisciplinary team of educational experts, psychologists, artists and architects worked with the management team, teacher and pupils to identify the scope of the problems, what and how to improve the school. Pupils and staff were at heart of the creative process and the decision making.

The students’ and staff’s social behaviour was central to improving the conditions at the school. Focus should be on much more than just the physical facilities. The traditional scope of renewal was totally changed. For example, new kinds of spaces that support collaborative interaction and which give the students a feeling of belonging have been built.

Kingsdale School has improved its ranking on the list of schools in the UK, and more students are passing their exams after the school was renovated. Pupils aggregate average test results have increased by 80 percent from 2003 to 2006.

Source: www.participle.net; www.school-works.org