Area guidelines: Curriculum analysis of space requirements

Area guidelines

Two DCSF publications provide simple area guidelines for indoor spaces and outdoor areas:

Building Bulletin 98: Briefing Framework for Secondary School Projects
Building Bulletin 99: Briefing Framework for Primary School Projects

The Bulletins also include advice, particularly for schools and governors, on how to develop design briefs for creating new or remodelling existing school buildings.

The guidelines provide for flexibility and the intention is not to set any constraints to innovation.

The net area of buildings includes basic teaching area, halls, learning resource areas, staff and administration, storage, and for secondary schools, dining and social.

There is a recommended area range for each category. An area greater than the minimum, but within the range will usually be required for each category. The recommended net area is four to ten per cent higher than the total of these minimum areas. The difference (called the 'float') is available to allow for the priorities of each school. Some of the float may be used to provide limited extended schools facilities such as parent/community rooms and multi-agency provision. However, the guideline recognises that supplementary area may be needed, for example to accommodate extra support facilities or non-school provision.

The net area is usually around 70 per cent of the total gross area of the school buildings. The non-net area includes circulation, toilets, plant rooms and kitchens, as well as internal walls.

The guidelines also cover school grounds, with types of area similarly categorised.