Why Modular Buildings Make Excellent Classrooms

Modular buildings have a number of uses, from construction site offices to temporary retail spaces. However, one of the most popular functions of a portable building is as a school classroom. 

To find out more about the benefits of classroom portable modular buildings, read on:

1) Shortage of space in school buildings

There is a substantial demand for more space in school buildings, as many educational establishments in the UK are oversubscribed and cannot physically fit in more pupils. 

Thanks to rising pupil numbers and councils struggling to keep up with the growing demand for spaces, many schools are unable to accept all applicants. 

Many school buildings are not large enough to cope with the rise in student numbers, which means some children are being forced to go to school out of their local area. 

There is a lack of funding for building expansion, as it is very costly and time consuming to extend large premises.

2) Private school VAT

Earlier this year, the Labour government implemented an increase in private school fees, charging VAT at 20 per cent on top of the usual costs.

The party’s intention was to raise money to support state schools, with the government hoping to attain an extra £1.8 billion a year by 2030. 

However, it could inadvertently be putting more pressure on state schools, as parents who cannot afford the rise in fees are having to send their children to their local comprehensive instead. 

In some cases, this has forced private schools to close, such as Park Hill School in Kingston and Falcons School in Putney, due to insufficient pupil numbers to keep them open. 

Consequently, the pupils who were attending these establishments might now have to go to a state school nearby, putting more pressure on places and an increased demand for classroom space.

3) School buildings are already substandard

Many school buildings are already substandard, so headteachers are not inclined to expand the current structure but, ideally, would want to rebuild it entirely. 

The School Rebuilding Programme has promised £1.5 billion to make sure classrooms in the UK are fit for purpose, and at least, not dangerous to students. There are currently 518 schools that are involved in the programme, but many other establishments would benefit from an update.

However, rebuilding these huge structures to meet today’s building standards is extremely expensive, and the budget cannot cover all the schools that need help. 

Instead of extending or rebuilding the building, however, modular classrooms provide a stepping stone for schools who cannot afford or do not have the time for a large-scale project.

By giving extra classroom space, they reduce demand on existing rooms and allow schools to take on more pupils if they can. 

4) Flexible layouts

One of the reasons why many schools and nurseries invest in modular buildings is that they provide lots of choice when it comes to layouts. 

For instance, the structure can be partitioned with full walls, so there can be more than one classroom, a bathroom, dining space or cloakroom in the space.

Alternatively, half-walls can be fitted to create different zones in the classroom. For instance, Early Years classes could benefit from having a separate space for playing, music, and quiet time. This could also be achieved by installing different flooring, lights or furniture. 

Reading zones, dining areas, and movement spaces can all be kept distinct, even within one modular building, and these can be switched around with ease. 

This is what makes them particularly popular, as they are easily adaptable. So schools can expand, downsize, relocate or alter the building and its layout depending on what they need it for. 

5) Integrated with the outdoor space

Primary school classrooms or secondary school mess rooms are also ideal for portable cabins, as there is a seamless link with the outdoor space.

This means there can be open access to the outside, as long as there is a secure fence around the area. Therefore, young children can enjoy free play between the indoors and the yard, with there being a lot of benefits of outdoor play. 

These include developing large motor skills; reducing stress and anxiety; allowing them breaks to switch off so they can improve their focus in the classroom; boosting their vitamin D levels; improving their social and emotional skills; and appreciating the natural environment. 

If they are used to playing outdoors in any weather, this will develop a lifelong love of being outside and learning through nature.

For older children, a common room that is connected with the school playground also means they can come and go freely, enjoying time indoors when they want to sit and chill or being able to hang out outside when they want some fresh air. Schools could even put some comfortable seating outside the building to make it cosier and more welcoming. 

6) Energy efficient

Something schools will be pleased to hear is that portable buildings are energy efficient. This means less money has to come out of the tight school budget for electricity and heat, so more can be spent on resources for the children. 

For a start, they are made off-site, so the amount of waste and carbon emissions created is significantly reduced. Furthermore, when it comes to running costs, LED lighting, double-glazing and other energy-saving features means they are cheaper to run in the long run compared with many other buildings. 

What’s more, modular buildings are very durable. Therefore, they do not just have to be a stop-gap before a full building replacement or extension, as they can last several years themselves. This will save schools lots of money on building plans, as well as on repairs and maintenance work.