As the outcome of primary and secondary school applications draw closer, schools now face a crucial period as they determine admissions and begin preparing for a new cohort of students.
This is also an important window for school estate managers, who will soon need to begin preparation for September intakes. Ensuring that learning spaces will be able to accommodate new students can be tricky, with pupil numbers often unpredictable and subject to fluctuation.
Read on for our advice on how estate managers can start preparing now for the next group of students through their doors.
Implement flexible solutions
More and more schools are finding themselves unable to respond to unpredictable pupil numbers, depending on location, local demand and demographic shifts. For example, while parents in Cheshire are experiencing rejected student applications due to lack of capacity, in Newham, schools are closing due to unfilled spaces. To respond to the next intake, education estate managers should recognise the value of flexible, scalable buildings, rather than permanent, fixed assets.
If more space is required due to an influx of students, modern methods of construction (MMC) and modular solutions are a timely and efficient way to rapidly expand capacity ahead of September. Similarly, if a school is facing an unprecedented decline in student numbers, having modular buildings on hand can help ensure estates remain scalable – units can be easily re-configured, expanded or re-located to align with student intakes.
As pupil numbers fluctuate across age demographics, schools will also need to ensure that on-site facilities reflect this, making use of under-utilised spaces. Primary schools, for example, are investing in school-based nurseries to better support working parents and are, in turn, playing an even more important role in their local community.
As well as optimising existing space, schools can utilise MMC and modular buildings to implement new facilities that can be re-configured according to future intakes. For example, new secondary school facilities such as sixth form centres, common rooms or study spaces may be required as pupil numbers grow.
Addressing SEND needs
Another vital factor for schools to consider is specialist support, as SEND numbers continue to rise. MMC allows for highly flexible design, which can be tailored for SEND learners through the optimisation of existing buildings, or separate, specialist hubs created using modular construction. Design features such as dedicated sensory or therapy rooms, curved wells to help ease anxiety, along with high levels of insulation to reduce echo and noise, can all be helpful in enhancing learning experiences for SEND students.
Shift to strategic, long-term thinking
To ensure any changes to school estates remain viable, schools need to shift from simply responding to the next cohort, to adopting longer-term, strategic thinking around their infrastructure.
MMC can help ensure school estates remain flexible over the long-term, without sacrificing resilience. Its precise manufacturing methods mean structural integrity won’t degrade over time, and allows for spaces to be re-configured as future intakes require, preventing the need for permanent buildings that aren’t fully adaptable, and which are a significant financial outlay. As MMC and modular solutions prioritise sustainability, buildings are also created to save on running costs, meaning estate managers can respond to unpredictable pupil numbers without having to compromise on long-term costs or overall quality.
Whilst student applications are reviewed, schools should take this opportunity to assess their estates, prioritise adaptability, and implement modern, innovative solutions. Moving away from outdated construction methods and fixed assets that aren’t built to adapt, schools will be better prepared for the next cohort of students and beyond.
Want to learn more about how MMC and modular construction can better prepare your estate to respond to pupil needs? Get in touch with one of our experts today.
