8 School Design Tips to Boost Children’s Mental Health

According to Mind, one in five school-age children experience mental health difficulties. To combat the problem, the NHS allocates over £1 billion a year in England to children and young people’s mental health services.

This Children’s Mental Health Week, we’re sharing eight design tips to help you create a more supportive and nurturing learning environment. Drawing on our own projects, we’ll explore how design elements can improve daily learning experiences, foster friendship, and ultimately boost student wellbeing.

Read on to discover practical school interior design solutions for creating a wellbeing-friendly environment.

Quiet Hubs

A quiet hub is a designated space where students can retreat from the hustle and bustle of the school environment. It offers a calming, supportive space where students can relax, refocus their attention and return to the classroom ready to learn.

St John’s Primary School offers a good example of a hub. The space includes a calming ocean design theme, soft furniture, and bookshelves to emphasise it’s a place for peace and quiet. Combined with the ICT area and fun feature wall, St John’s hub is a sanctuary for students.

Quiet hubs are ideal for secondary schools too. Just one example could be when some children may struggle with the transition to secondary school, hubs can provide a place where they can relax and talk about their concerns. This will support the readjustment and, in turn, help them to focus better during lessons.

Furthermore, hubs will help children with diagnosed conditions like autism or ADHD to regulate sensory overload. With a dedicate space for peace and quiet, they can escape the busyness of breaktimes and decompress.

Natural Settings

According to a research paper by Science Direct, student wellbeing is positively affected by natural window views and indoor vegetation. Those with more natural window views are reportedly more focused in class, while time spent in nature is associated with less stress, reduced fatigue and more attentive behaviour.

At James Allen’s Girls’ School in London, we helped the students to connect with nature by creating two garden rooms in the sixth form centre. Each garden room includes conservatory-style windows, modular furniture, and planter troughs which the students have populated with biophilia.

For another idea, consider incorporating facilities for outdoor learning. This could include a dedicated outdoor classroom area, perhaps by extending the learning space onto a decked area accessible via large doors.

In addition to connecting students with nature, this approach allows teachers to diversify their teaching methods. As children have preferred learning styles (e.g., visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile), teachers can create an inclusive environment where every student can learn in a way that suits their individual needs.

Related case study: Check out how Dulverton Primary School brought the outside in for its pupils in South London.

Flexible Furniture

A recent Education Hub article published by the UK government emphasises the importance of extracurricular activities in supporting children and young people’s mental health. Recognising this, James Allen’s Girls’ School has invested in creating flexible spaces to facilitate these activities.

Its common room now features adaptable school furniture, including booths with castor wheels, pouffes and reconfigurable modular seating. This versatility allows the space to transform seamlessly into a dedicated area for extracurricular activities, such as rehearsals for the school orchestra or teacher-led clubs.

By providing an environment for students to engage in shared interests, the school can help them establish valuable social connections. This is a key factor in boosting overall wellbeing, as highlighted by the NHS.

Digital Skills Hub

The UK government’s Education Hub article also highlights the importance of learning new skills, aligning with the NHS’s “5 Steps to Mental Wellbeing”. Acquiring new skills boosts confidence and self-esteem, contributing significantly to wellbeing.

To support this, Haringey Sixth Form College in London introduced a dedicated digital skills hub. This state-of-the-art learning space provides students with access to the latest technology and software. Key features include a tablet station, multiple ICT suites equipped with new monitors, booths for skill sharing, and a laptop area with an HD presentation screen.

This initiative not only equips students with essential digital literacy skills but also creates a more engaging and stimulating learning environment. This can reduce feeling of monotony, improve motivation, and contribute to academic success.

See more of the Haringey Sixth Form College project here.

Spaces for Exercise

Keeping physically active is also on the NHS’s “5 Steps to Mental Wellbeing” list. As such, it’s no surprise that the government recently pledged £600 million in funding to give children more access to high quality PE and sporting opportunities.

While traditional sports like football, rugby, and hockey remain popular, many schools now provide spaces with gym equipment. For example, the images above show a school gym equipped with cardio machines and weight training equipment.

Given the increasing popularity of gym memberships, consider investing in a dedicated space to cater to student interests and promote a healthy, active lifestyle.

Related case study: St John’s Primary School

Good Acoustics

As highlighted by the National Institute of Health, poor classroom acoustics can have a negative effect on student happiness and their ability to learn. In fact, the World Health Organisation recommends that noise should be less than 35 decibels in a classroom to allow for good learning conditions.

To address this challenge at Haringey Sixth Form College, we implemented acoustic wall features across multiple classrooms. A particular highlight are the Lego-shaped acoustic wall panels in the mathematics classrooms, which absorb noise while adding a touch of fun to the spaces.

We also incorporated v-shaped acoustic features at Haringey, creating the illusion of birds in flight. Similarly, at Oakfield Prep School we suspended leaf and cloud shaped acoustic elements for its nature-themed library.

Related case study: If you like the look of Oakfield Prep School, check out St Andrew’s fun acoustic features here.

Collaborative Design

When we say collaborative design, we believe it extends beyond consultation with school administrators. At James Allen’s Girls’ School, we gained input from students as well to help inform the school’s interior design decisions.

Since students are the primary users of the space, their perspectives were important in creating an environment that truly reflects their needs and preferences.

This collaborative approach also fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility among students, strengthening their connection to the space. Fittingly, the resulting space has a mature feel, more reminiscent of a contemporary office than a traditional school setting.

Sensory Rooms

Like quiet hubs, sensory rooms offer an alternative space that supports children’s mental health and wellbeing. These rooms are thoughtfully designed to cater to diverse sensory needs, incorporating features such as soft textures, soothing sounds, calming lighting, and relaxing colour palettes like blues and greens.

This approach is particularly beneficial for students with autism, ADHD, and other special needs. By providing a sensory-rich environment, schools can help these students reduce stress, improve social skills, and enhance focus and attention.

Beyond supporting well-being, sensory equipment plays a crucial role in making education more accessible and inclusive for all learners. This sends a powerful message to students that their unique needs are valued and supported, fostering a sense of belonging and boosting their confidence in the school environment.

Conclusion

In an age where the mental health of young people is a critical concern, creating nurturing and supportive learning environments is a necessity. By thoughtfully considering the design of our schools, we can significantly impact the emotional and social wellbeing of our students.

The tips outlined in this article offer practical strategies for fostering a more positive and supportive school experience. From cultivating spaces that encourage social interaction to incorporating elements that promote calm and focus, these design considerations can contribute to a fun and enriching learning experience.

Ultimately, by investing in the wellbeing of our students, we are investing in their future success both inside and outside the classroom.

Contact Rap Interiors – Experienced School Refurbishment Company

Has this article inspired you to make changes to your school? If so, Rap Interiors specialises in school refurbishments that engage students and prioritise their unique needs.

To unlock your students’ full potential, contact us today for a free consultation and let’s transform your school together. Please call 0333 600 1234 or fill out the enquiry form below.