Darlington Education Village

Visited by Sue Lomas (School Improvement Officer) and Tony Ryan (ICT Inspector Advisor) from Salford City Council on 8 November 2006.

This is a pioneering project in the UK.  Three schools, one special, one secondary 11-16 and one primary school have all been brought together within the Education Village to create one learning campus.

Please click on images below to view a larger version.

The school is centred around a 'village green'

Walkways providing disabled access to first floor

Wide naturally lit corridors

The Education Village is, governed by a single governing body and led by an Executive Director, Dame Dela Smith.

The school has carried forward the three specialisms of its parent schools, technology, visual arts and vocational education.  It is organised into three key areas:

• Phase 1 – Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 – Learning to Grow
• Phase 2 – Key Stage 2 and 3 – Learning to Learn
• Phase 3 – 14-19 – Learning to Live

It is a PFI build and the school operates with three school home base areas but there are areas of the school which will be available for use by all pupils.  There is specific accommodation for pupils for whom inclusion is not immediately appropriate, for example there is a separate building for some Social Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (SEBD) pupils and some children with higher spectrum autism.

What we liked

• The different-sized teaching areas in the primary and special areas which allowed for small group or individual teaching or whole classes.
• The enhanced teaching spaces which allowed for access by all children.  These had features such as rise and fall tables, whiteboards, sinks, etc.
• The wide corridors, amount of natural light in all areas and the central ‘village green’ which was accessed by all pupils in free time.

Areas we can improve upon

• Lack of flexible spaces in secondary areas (still operating in curriculum areas)
• The dining areas were imaginative and inviting but prevented through traffic during breaks and lunchtimes

This page was last updated on 4 October 2009