Suitability is described as how well premises meet the
needs of pupils, teachers and other users, and contribute towards
raising standards of education. The assessments concentrate
mainly on the numbers and characteristics of each type of internal
and external space.
The key points of
the suitability assessment are as follows:
- The assessment involves a two stage process with Stage 1 being
a room-by-room survey of problem areas and Stage 2 being a summary
which involves the Stage 1 results and the analysis of numbers and
sizes of spaces.
-
The assessment
categorises problem areas into four categories – Category A –
Unable to teach curriculum, B – Teaching methods inhibited, C –
Management or organisation of school affected adversely and D –
Pupil or staff morale affected adversely.
- In addition to logging problem areas, the survey identifies
health and safety/security problems which arise from inadequate or
unsatisfactory aspects of building/site layouts.
- The impact on educational standards and health and
safety/security from the Suitability survey is summarised in the
assessment summary alongside a comparison of existing and optimum
number of spaces (
DCSF Design Guidance ‘Building Bulletin 98’ for Secondary Schools
and ‘Building Bulletin 99’ for Primary Schools set out
recommendations on the numbers and types of spaces schools should
have).
- Suitability Assessments establish a surplus or shortfall of
each type of space.
- In the case of secondary and special schools a Curriculum
Analysis is undertaken to obtain the optimum number of spaces
required.
-
The assessment
is carried out in discussion with the Headteacher to ensure that it
reflects both the DCSF recommendations on spaces and the day to day
operation of the school.
-
A detailed
Suitability Report is prepared, together with a Key Issues report
summarising the main findings.
Further details
about Suitability can be found on the
Teachernet web site.
