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UK public wants to save the old school

26/1/2010

Retrofit versus rebuild debate continues with survey and reports from English Heritage.

Two thirds of the general public think refurbishing and extending the UK's old schools is more environmentally friendly than demolishing and rebuilding, according to a survey carried out by English Heritage.

In the survey, 83 per cent of respondents thought local councils should do more to find new uses for old, empty schools, and almost half thought schools with historic character provide a more inspiring educational environment than modern ones. Three in four said historic schools contribute to the identity of a local area.

The survey coincided with the launch of two publications by the heritage body. A new guidance document, Refurbishing historic school buildings, published with the support of the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), demonstrates the potential and flexibility of traditional school buildings.

Baroness Andrews, chair of English Heritage, said: "The government's current school investment programme is unique in scale and vital in ensuring that our country's school estate provides the best possible learning environment for many years to come. But we believe that local education authorities need to strike the best balance between replacement and refurbishment. The latter is often the more environmentally sensitive and effective solution."

English Heritage has also published a new book, England's schools, by architectural historian Elain Harwood, giving a history of school buildings.