School furniture has not developed in 50 yearsandmust do urgentlytoaidlearningandprotectchildren, delegates at a newcampaignlaunchhavebeentold.

A calltoaction, Safeseats of learning, urgedspecifiers,

manufacturersandeducationprofessionalstoworktogethertoensurechildren can

enjoyandbenefitfrommuchbetterenvironments, whichwouldaidbothlearningandteaching, reducethe risk of

recurrentbackpainandrecognisethedifferentshapesandsizes of growingyoungsters.

Introducingthelaunchevent, HaydenDavies, ManagingDirector of FIRA International

[FurnitureIndustryResearchAssociation], saidpricewastheoverwhelmingfactorwhichcurrentlydictatedthepurchase

of furnitureused in mostschools, whichcontrastswitheveryotherarea of thefurnitureindustry.

“School furniture has basicdesignand minimal development,” he said. “Inallotherareas,

designinnovationdrivesfurnituresales. But in mostschools, furniture has not changedfor 50 years – how

manypeoplehavethesamekitchenthey had 50 yearsago?”

KeynotespeakerTyGoddard, Director of the British Councilfor School Environments [BCSE] told a

capacityaudience at London’sRoyalSociety of Artsthatthe BCSE had become an organisation of 300 members in

thepasttwoyears, andurgedthosepresentto form a similarcoalitiontosupportthecaseforgreatfurniture in schools.

“FIRA has produced a documentwhich is socomplex in itssimplicity, andsosimple in itscomplexitythat it can

reallyhelpmake a difference. Hugechanges in educationsuch as personalisedlearning,

schoolsforthecommunityandtheChildren’s Plan willhavesignificantimplicationsforeducationalspaceplanning,

and Safeseats of learning is a clarioncallforchange. Weneedthesamekind of campaignagainstturkeytwizzler-

typeschoolfurniture as therewasagainst Turkey twizzler-typeschoolfood,

andthisaccessiblediscussionpaperwillhelpmakethathappen.

“Poorergonomicdesignaffectshandwriting, concentrationandthe general well-being of pupils. Furniture can do

somuchmorethan it is currentlygivencreditfor; goodergonomicdesigncreates a sense of ownershipandrespect.”

AlisonWadsworth, Senior Designer at theDepartmentforChildren, Schools andFamilies,

saidLocalEducationAuthoritiesarebeingallocated an average of around £10m tospend on

furnitureandequipmentundertheBuilding Schools fortheFutureprogramme of refurbishment in secondaryschools.

“Schools oftenfocus on equipment as it is assumedthere is a direct link tolearningandtherefore, ultimately, results,

but weneedtogetthemessageacrossthatfurnitureplays a bigpart in theenvironmentandthelearningexperience; it is

just as important as equipment, buildingsandotherlearningresources.”