21CS Standard
The 21st Century Schools Standard
During his address to delegates at the launch conference in March 2010, the Children, Education and Lifelong Learning (CELL) Minister spoke about developing a 21st Century Schools Standard. This Standard will ensure that learning environments for children and young people in Wales will support successful implementation of strategies for school improvement and better educational outcomes, as well as reducing recurrent costs, energy consumption and carbon emissions.
The Programme team has worked with a number of organisations to develop this national standard for use across Wales. The Standard provides the latest information and knowledge on best practice for local authorities on a range of issues relating to:
- Transforming the Learning Environment - current educational thinking
- School Design - a comprehensive review of all the guidance needed to achieve best practice, including case studies
- School grounds - guidance and case studies
- Procurement
- Project Management
The Standard generally guides rather than dictates what local authorities and schools should do, and takes into account the need for local priorities and flexibility. However, there are minimum standards that must be met in some areas, highlighted where appropriate. All school projects in Wales will benefit from application of the guidance; Welsh Government funding for projects is predicated on a properly-considered response to the issues covered by the Standard.
Watch a video to guide you through the Standard:
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