01. Identity and context
Making a school the students and community can be proud of
Criteria for good school design
School ethos and identity
Is the educational vision successfully manifested in the design?
Is the school design inviting to the local community?
Does the design respond and contribute positively to its locality?
Relationship with neighbourhood
Does the design respond and contribute positively to its locality?
Civic character
Does the scheme establish an appropriate civic presence for the school in the neighbourhood?
Will the design strengthen the image of education locally?
Questions to help you meet the criteria
A successful scheme will embody the ethos and identity of a school. It will contribute to the neighbourhood beyond the site boundary and establish an attractive presence in the community.
Our questions to ask about identity and context can help you meet the assessment criteria.
A good example
An academy with a business and enterprise specialism co-located with a Special Educational Needs school on one campus. The SEN school has its own distinct identity but is clearly a part of the overall complex.
The scheme scored especially well for 01. Identity and context and 04. Organisation.
Another good example
The panel commented on the successful site planning and landscape design of this scheme.
The drawings carefully detail the issues affecting the site and explain the scheme’s response, which develops the civic character of the school on a tight urban site.