A Study from the University of Salford, Manchester, The Impact of Classroom Design on Pupils’ Learnings, reveals that physical aspects like colour, light, texture and air quality carry the potential to improve student learning progress by up to 16%. Ensuring the flooring we use in educational spaces contributes to these is key for classroom success and a comfortable environment for all.

The right flooring choices in schools helps to provide the foundation for an environment that optimises engagement, supports teaching, and inspires learning. But delivering on occupant comfort covers a range of factors, a significant one being Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). Good IAQ is critical for healthy and productive learning environments and is significantly impacted by the material specification and finishes that go into a space.

Material health is a key element of Shaw Contract’s approach to developing flooring solutions. Using material ingredients in flooring products that limit the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and odours released into the air we breathe is paramount. Products with a Eurofins Indoor Air Comfort Gold certification means they meet the most stringent compliance for a product with low VOC emissions criteria and contributes to a healthy indoor environment. The tiles are also easy to maintain, without a need for chemical cleaning.

Working with lead project contractors BAM Construction, Shaw Contract provided flooring solutions for Castle Mead, a 1,200-place eight form entry academy, adding to the successful run of schools for the Mead Educational Trust. Carpet tiles are a popular flooring choice for educational environments because they are easy to install and maintain, help reduce noise and are highly durable under heavy foot traffic. Modular flooring options also mean that tiles can be lifted easily and replaced as required.

Shaw Contract’s Auxiliary carpet tile collection was specified for strategic interior spaces such as the library and study rooms within the new Academy. With nature-inspired cool to warm tones that help to promote a sense of calm, Auxiliary is ideal for creating the right atmosphere for learning. Styles Complement and Feature have been used in grey and blue tones to introduce a subtle interplay of colour and pattern.

Featuring Cradle to Cradle certified TaskWorx backing, the tiles have been used in high-traffic areas like hallways to help reduce impact noise from footfall, while improving sound absorption in these spaces. The carpet tiles are also part of Shaw’s Take-back scheme through which materials are recycled, re-used or re-purposed after their useful life.

Pattern and colour have also been considered throughout this project and the carpet tiles, made in the UK, provide both functionality and style to the learning environments and help to deliver a modern and comfortable learning environment for all students. The use of Shaw Contract’s carpet tiles has delivered on all of Castle Mead’s requirements regarding their sustainability criteria, material health and helping to create a fun learning environment with the optimum occupant comfort to boost learning opportunities for the students using the space.

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