‘Design elements for school grounds: ideas to inspire’ draws on transferable lessons and processes from Architecture and Design Scotland’s extensive experience in collaborating with schools and from projects where they teamed up with UrbanPioneers.

Recognising the significant benefits of well-designed school grounds, the guidance offers a wealth of inspirational examples and affordable solutions, ranging from small-scale initiatives like food growing projects and rain gardens to more ambitious developments such as play structures and shelters.

This resource is specifically aimed at those working in schools, local authorities, and the wider community who are looking to improve their school grounds. It showcases a range of adaptable ideas relevant to all school settings, highlights key considerations including climate and wellbeing issues, and provides practical steps for planning, designing and implementing projects from start to finish.

‘Design elements for school grounds’ comprises six individual guides, each focusing on specific design elements:

• Planting and gardens
• Play and outdoor learning
• Enhancing surfaces
• Furniture and shelter
• Food growing
• Rain gardens

While the resource highlights numerous individual project ideas, Architecture and Design Scotland encourages schools and architects to consider their grounds holistically to maximise the benefits and opportunities for their students and wider community.

“Outdoor spaces around schools are a wealth of opportunities for sustainable learning settings. This resource has been developed to help support schools maximise these spaces to their full curricular potential, whether it’s a small corner of the playground or a larger masterplan of the school grounds. The resource has inspiration and practical advice for all budgets and visions,” said Lesley Ridell Robertson, principal designer at Architecture and Design Scotland.

“The resource provides an easy to follow step-by-step guide for schools to improve the use of outdoor spaces from various aspects such as learning, play, connection to nature, sustainability and resilience. It covers the overall approach, how to get started with key aspects on what to improve, followed with separate documents on individual elements,” added Marion Preez, director at UrbanPioneers.