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Auditory Standards for School Buildings

Good acoustics are essential to a successful learning environment for all children, particularly for those with special hearing requirements, and my Department works hard to achieve this, in partnership with other Government Departments such as Communities and Local Government and with the National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS). I should place on record my appreciation to the NDCS for their commitment to breaking down the barriers faced by deaf children. To continue our drive for improvement, I am announcing a package of measures designed to ensure that school buildings have good acoustics and that the needs of those with special hearing requirements are met. My Department and Communities and Local Government are taking a number of actions to improve acoustics in schools. These include:"Partnerships for Schools (PFS) will ensure, through the Approvals Process, that all future funding for Building Schools for the Future (BSF) schools will not be approved without contractual commitment to meeting appropriate standards through acoustic test certification.""In local authorities where schools have already been constructed with BSF funding, a certificate of compliance with acoustic standards for the most recently funded school, or plan demonstrating how that will be achieved, will be required before further funding is released to that LA.""My Department will publish a design practice note for clients by December 2010, emphasising the importance of good acoustics, including a strong recommendation for testing and reminding them of funding conditions under the BSF programme that I set out earlier in this statement.""My Department and CLG will write jointly to every building control body (BCB) in England and Wales, reminding them of the importance of acoustics in all schools, including primary schools, especially for pupils with impaired hearing. We will also remind Building Control Bodies that where acoustic testing is being carried out to satisfy requirements to secure funding, they should use this data to assess compliance with the regulations.""Where proposals are being considered to adopt alternative performance standards to those set out in Building Bulletin 93, we will also ask BCBs to alert applicants to the latest guidance on acoustics and ask them not to approve alternative performance standards unless a full and proper case has been made in accordance with Building Bulletin 93." In addition, my Department will:"Produce an evaluation of the acoustic environment of up to 10 schools and disseminate the lessons learnt by March 2010; and""Widen the scope of our Spaces for Personalised Learning project to include a detailed consideration of acoustics in innovative learning spaces with immediate effect.""Go out to public consultation during 2010 on an updated version of "Building Bulletin 93: Acoustic design of Schools: A Design Guide", the key document for ensuring good acoustic standards in schools. This will take on board improvements ""already proposed following extensive stakeholder consultation, as well as any findings from the investigatory work we will carry out." CLG is due to commence an evaluation of part E of the Building Regulations later this year. This is the first stage of a full review of part E that could lead to revised regulations and guidance in 2013. The NDCS will be asked to contribute to this process and my Department will be fully involved on any aspects relating to schools to ensure consistency with my Department's guidance. Finally, in the light of the major study that the NDCS has undertaken into recent testing in schools, I have asked DCSF officials to work with CLG officials to examine the implications of introducing mandatory acoustic testing in all new schools. I have asked for this advice by June 2010. Depending on the outcome of this work, it would be our intention to issue a formal consultation on the question of mandatory testing. My officials will place details of these proposals on teachernet.