BSF Champions Group visits Judgemeadow

Last week the BSF Champions Group took a tour of one of the newly built phase 1 BSF schools,  Judgemeadow Community College.  Below is a short video from the tour. ( I’ll add some more detailed text about the visit soon).

One of the advantages of The City of Leicester College being a phase 2 school is that we can learn from those schools who have gone through the process before us.  There were lots of good things about Judgemeadow’s new design- the space, the calm atmosphere, the  flexible working spaces – and of course lots and lots of new shiny stuff!  Take a look for yourself by clicking the video below!

It was quite an uplifting experience, and I left with my head buzzing with the possibilities for our own College design.

How to Design a BSF School

For those wondering about the process of designing a new school under BSF, this video is well worth a watch.   It’s a slideshow with audio taken from a lecture at the University of Nottingham by Alan Dale, an Education Architect and independent consultant for a number of London Boroughs on BSF.

The first 5 minutes are  a bit dull, but it does get better! Try and stay with it beyond the first couple of slides!

In the video, Alan Dale explains how the BSF design process moves from initial vision, to a list of rooms and requirements, to considering adjacencies, before moving on to design ideas.  He takes a look at different plan forms and also discusses issues around circulation and flexible building design.

The lecture gives an interesting overview of the process  of designing a new school, and you can spot a number of the similar design elements in our own original design plans from 2005.

Integrated ICT – Dream the dream

This video is from Ramesys Education, who have been awarded contracts to manage ICT services for BSF schools in Manchester and a few of the London Boroughs.

It’s a vision of school day where the use of integrated ICT enriches and enables students to learn effectively. We follow 2 students as they go about their day, making use of a variety of gadgets and systems and generally having a very relaxed and jolly time.

What I like about it most is not so much the technology itself, but the reliability of all the components. They all seem to work flawlessly and are totally hassle free.  Sasha doesnt once appear to want to bash her laptop repeatedly into a wall in frustration when it eats her homework assignment or loses connection in the middle of her presentation.

Unfortunately, by all accounts the reality is somewhat trailing the dream – I heard that the Learning Platform Ramesys have been putting into their schools is horrible.  The managed ICT services is for many the biggest bugbear in BSF. For me, the most important things will be the reliability of services provided and the ability for teachers to continue to be innovative and try new things.

Learning Plaza – Could it work at TCOLC?

I was recently shown this video clip of the  “Learning Plaza”, at New Line Learning Academy, in Maidstone, Kent.  I thought was interesting and would like to share with you and ask if staff and students at our college would like to see something similar as part of our new build.

The Learning Plaza is designed to hold 90 students at any one time – equivalent to 3 standard classes.  There are enormous green tiered sofas at either end of the room which act as little amphitheatres.  Between these is an assortment of office-style work space and ICT facilities.   Teachers gather the students at one of the ends for group-work.   Students can choose to kick off their shoes and lounge around on the sofas, working on their tasks with notepad computers, or sit at more traditional desks.  You’ll have to watch the video to get the full idea!

Students respond favourably, saying its more relaxing and encourages them to behave – they dont want to get banned from using the space. The staff at the Academy are also very positive about the impact the learning plaza has made, and consider it a contributing factor in their improving results. So what do you think?  As a teacher, would you enjoy working in a space like this?  Could you share space with 2 other colleagues/classes or do you prefer having your own classroom?  Do you think students at TCOLC would respond well to working in this sort of environment? As a student, do you think you would learn better here or in a more traditional classroom? Vote in the poll, or post your comments below!

Leicester Phase 1 Schools Slideshow

Thanks to Mike McPherson for sharing this slideshow of photos taken during recent tours of Beaumont Leys, Fullhurst, Judgemeadow and Soar Valley.

There are not many photos of Leicester’s newly built phase 1 BSF schools floating around the net yet, so its great to finally get the opportunity to peek inside!

Some very interesting and  different approaches to design in each of the four schools.

There was one common thread running through each new build…  you can have any colour you like – as long as it can be found in a packet of starbursts.

Videos – sharing the experience

I’m aiming to take short video clips from visits to other BSF schools and and upload them here  so you can share the experience.  If I come across any other interesting videos about BSF from youtube, teachers tv, or wherever, I’ll also share them here.
This one is from Wolverhampton – its their BSF “vision thing”.  Lots of whooshing and shiny equipment and engaged children.  Worth a watch!