When it comes to delivering DfE projects, design managers have the unique privilege of straddling two worlds: education and construction. Their role? To ensure that every brick laid, wire pulled, and piece of technology installed contributes meaningfully to the educational outcomes of the students who attend the schools they design.

This blog takes you through the journey of a typical project, highlighting the challenges, triumphs, and importance of adopting an education-led approach in construction.

For EdTech experts, this approach not only ensures that the ICT infrastructure is robust and future-proof but also that it aligns with the pedagogical goals of the institution - and that’s where we at Novatia come in…

The initial vision

Every successful project begins with a clear vision, and in the realm of education, that vision is student-centric. At Novatia, we believe that ICT should be more than just an add-on to a construction project; in today’s world, it should be a core element that enhances both learning and teaching. 

Our approach starts with understanding the educational goals of the institution, and with this in mind there are several questions that design managers will need to consider:

  • What are the learning outcomes a particular school or MAT wants to achieve? 
  • How do they envision the role of technology in their curriculum? 
  • Are there any special requirements to take into account?

For example, Novatia are currently working to enable outdoor and kinaesthetic learning at Hill View School.

Hill View School is a new 5-16 co-educational special free school, established within The Oak Partnership Trust, to cater to the unique needs of children with speech, language, communication and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. 

To meet these specific needs and requirements, we understood the necessity for progressive technology that integrated seamlessly with school infrastructure - something we’ll examine in more detail below.

Designing with purpose: the role of ICT in learning spaces

In many construction projects, ICT infrastructure is considered late in the process, almost as an afterthought. However, in an education-led approach, ICT is central from the start. Our design process at Novatia involves close collaboration with architects, educators, and IT specialists to ensure that the physical spaces support the technology and, more importantly, that the technology supports the learning.

On top of technological aspects, design managers will need to consider:

  • Lighting, both artificial and natural
  • Position of the teacher or support staff
  • Classroom layout, furniture design and procurement

One of the key trends in modern education is the shift towards flexible learning spaces. Gone are the days of rigid classroom layouts with rows of desks facing a blackboard (or whiteboard in more recent times) - today’s students need spaces that can adapt to different teaching methods, whether it’s group work, individual study, or interactive lessons. 

Accessibility is also a factor that needs to be considered, with solutions in place to support students with special educational needs or disabilities.

This means designing classrooms that can be reconfigured easily, with wireless connectivity, interactive whiteboards, and charging stations strategically placed to support a variety of learning activities. At Hill View, we ensured effective integration of digital technologies into the physical design of the teaching and learning spaces, enabling the interactive boards in the classrooms and portable devices in the outdoor learning spaces to connect to the wireless networks across the entire site. To achieve this, we worked closely with the architects to guarantee that these elements were not just functional but also enhanced the overall learning environment.

Stakeholder engagement

For design managers, bridging the gap between education and construction is a key part of the role. In an education-led approach, it’s not just about construction experts talking to other construction experts. It’s about bringing together educators, IT specialists, and architects to create a shared vision for the project. At Novatia, we prioritise stakeholder engagement throughout the project lifecycle. In many cases, this entails regular meetings with the school’s leadership team, teachers, and even students. We’re passionate about ensuring that the ICT infrastructure we are designing meets their needs and expectations - which means feedback and collaboration is an ongoing part of our process.

Another important aspect of this stakeholder engagement is managing expectations. In construction, delays and changes are inevitable, but in a school setting, these can have significant implications. Design managers must ensure that any changes to the design or schedule are communicated clearly and that everyone understands the impact on the overall project. 

Turning vision into reality

When it comes to education construction projects, the delivery phase is where all the planning and collaboration come to fruition. This phase can be particularly complex - it involves coordinating the installation of hardware, software, and network infrastructure at the right time in relation to the wider construction programme. Design managers will need to work with the delivery teams to ensure that there is a robust handover and that the vision for the building and how technology will be integrated into the fabric of it is retained when breaking ground commences on site.  

It can often be the transition from the design to the delivery phase that poses the greatest challenge to overall project success - and this is where Novatia can help. With experience in over 200 successful deployments, we can work with design managers to foresee a lot of the potential pitfalls and assist you in maximising the potential of your project while avoiding these risks.

Keeping on top of quality control

Quality control is highly important in education-led construction projects, and design managers will need to liaise closely with contractors to ensure that quality considerations form part of the initial design phase.

The Department for Education’s annual report for the financial year 2021-22, published in December 2022, identified the condition of school buildings, particularly those built between 1945-70, as one of six ‘significant risks’ the Department was managing. The report noted that the situation had worsened during the year, and was unlikely to improve during 2022.

More recently, there have been serious concerns about the use of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in school construction. In August 2023, it was announced that several schools had been told that they may need to shut buildings following the discovery of RAAC. This followed earlier closures and relocations of schools where RAAC had been discovered. In February this year, the government published an updated list of 234 schools and colleges in England that it says have reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). 

While the total number of schools in the country thought to be affected is about 1%, the presence of RAAC in school buildings is a key example of the modern challenges faced by the construction industry. 

Therefore, design and construction leaders need to prioritise quality control throughout the construction process to deliver a high-quality facility that meets the expectations of stakeholders. 

Regular inspections, testing, and monitoring can help identify and address any issues promptly. At Novatia, we have stringent processes in place to ensure that every aspect of the ICT infrastructure is tested thoroughly before it goes live. This can involve conducting multiple rounds of testing on the network, interactive whiteboards, and other key components to ensure they were functioning as expected. It’s also a wise decision to engage teachers in the testing process. This not only helps to identify any issues early on but also gives the staff confidence in using the new technology from day one.

Thinking ahead

Successful EdTech consultancies will ensure that educational ICT design projects not only meet the needs of today’s students but also prepare them for the future. This means design managers must stay ahead of the curve to implement forward-facing solutions.

In a climate where technology plays a crucial role in education, ICT infrastructure needs to be robust, reliable, and future-proof. This requires careful planning and coordination with all stakeholders. 

A common challenge design managers will face is ensuring that the infrastructure is scalable. With technology evolving rapidly, it’s important to make sure that networks can handle future demands without requiring significant overhauls. This involves working closely with IT partners to design a system that could be easily upgraded as new technologies emerge - something we at Novatia work towards across all our projects.

The importance of an education-led approach

In the world of school construction, it’s easy to get caught up in the technical details and forget the bigger picture. But for design managers, it’s about creating adaptable environments that facilitate learning and bring out the best in both students and teachers.

An education-led approach ensures that ICT infrastructure is not just an afterthought but a fundamental part of the design process. It’s an approach that requires collaboration, flexibility, and a deep understanding of the educational landscape. 

Here at Novatia, you can rely on us as a proven, experienced ICT partner for your construction project. We’ll support you throughout the whole construction project following the RIBA process - bidding, pre-construction, and construction. This ensures an ICT solution that is designed and installed to meet the client’s current and future requirements and is fully integrated into the overall building design.

To discover more about our services and find out more about past projects, get in touch with us today.
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