Reimagining Schools. Engaging Communities.

A radical new approach to generating social value from school building projects can counter the impact of falling birth rates and changing demographics in communities across the United Kingdom, says Kieran Dyer, director of architecture at Pick Everard.

Now is the time to ensure school assets add value to the communities they serve beyond lesson timetables.

Developing ‘meanwhile uses’ and examining how education spaces are utilised at the design stage can also support regeneration and economic growth in the longer term.

The above idea stems from the ‘asset-based community development’ (ABCD) approach to delivering improvements in a particular neighbourhood.

Building a system where more students with Special educational needs and disability (SEND) can attend mainstream schools in their own communities is also central to forthcoming education reforms.

Identifying the strengths, talents and physical resources within a school, and mapping wider collaborations, can be a powerful tool in engaging young people in education and connecting them to the wider community.

Educational institutions are integral to growth, whether it is inspiring the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs, or in the delivery of physical assets, such as gyms and theatres, schools, colleges and universities.

These have always had a focus on enhancing skills and supporting economic development.

But there is a risk that without a fresh, radical approach to framing schools as community assets we are missing out on opportunities to really drive positive and lasting sustainable regeneration.

How is the space within schools and colleges used?

Could it serve a healthcare or wellbeing purpose?

Could it be used to enhance the local economy?

Could the technical expertise of teachers help to fill a skills gap in the wider community?

At a time when other public services are looking to rationalise their estates as budgets are squeezed, could schools become neighbourhood hubs where the likes of council and other advisory services can be accessed?

Pick Everard will be attending the Education Estates conference at Manchester Central from 14th to 15th October.

This increases a community’s resilience by reducing its reliance on external sources.

Local authorities have responsibility for ensuring there are sufficient school places in their areas.

However the latest figures show there are 9,032,426 pupils in schools in England - a drop of 59,600 compared to 2024.

Just as councils can consider expanding and remodelling existing schools to increase capacity, repurposing underused estates is an option that can strongly benefit communities until population numbers recover.

It’s a highly topical issue as education leaders await the publication of the Government’s Schools White Paper this autumn, which is likely to focus on the creation of more SEND places in mainstream and specialist schools.

Local authorities might additionally rethink the role of schools in society, extending their purpose beyond teaching to act as anchors for community life.

He called for more flexible and adaptive thinking that repurposes existing assets by their potential to support regeneration, public services and community wellbeing.

We need to join the dots by repositioning education at the heart of regeneration not just as a place to learn but as a platform for thriving communities.

The chance to realign educational assets with public services and community development is a time-limited opportunity.

Being flexible and adaptive in our thinking now can help to meet the shifting needs of our communities in the coming decades.

Pick Everard will be attending the Education Estates conference at Manchester Central from 14th to 15th October.