A new UK Government took office on 11 May 2010. As a result the content on this site may not reflect current Government policy.
All statutory guidance and legislation published on this site continues to reflect the current legal position unless indicated otherwise.
To view the new Department for Education website, please go to http://www.education.gov.uk

DfE publications

The DfE produces a wide range of design guidance publications.

The Schools for the Future series of publications from the DfE will be relevant to anyone involved in BSF:

Project Faraday

Book cover image: Project Faraday The Government has made a commitment to making science a priority in schools at all levels; to improve science learning and teaching and to inspire more young people, from all backgrounds, to study and work in science. Project Faraday aims to improve the design of school science facilities, as part of a ide programme to support these goals.

Published in 2008

This guide is available to download as a pdf in two parts:

Project Faraday part 1;
Project Faraday part 2.


Design of Sustainable Schools: Case Studies

Book cover image: Design of Sustainable Schools

Aimed at expert professionals such as designers and local authority clients, this guide covers case studies of both new build and refurbished schools, showing how many sustainability techniques used in the design of new schools can be applied to existing schools.

Published in November 2006.

Download Sustainable Schools: Case Studies


Designing Schools for Extended Services

Book cover image: Designing Schools for Extended Services

Extended schools benefit not only children and young people, but also wider local communities. The Government has set out a clear aim for extended services provision, including childcare, study support, parenting support, specialist services, and adult learning and leisure.

Published in 2006.

Download Designing Schools for Extended Services


Designing School Grounds

Book cover image: Designing School Grounds

This book encourages schools to consider how best to use their grounds for the educational, recreational and social needs of their pupils and wider communities. It gives practical case studies of schools that have transformed their outside environments.

Published October 2006.

Download Designing School Grounds


Inspirational Design for PE & Sport Spaces

Book cover image: PE and Sport Spaces

Aimed at designers, school heads, local authorities and other sport and leisure providers.

Published in November 2005, it includes several inspiring case studies.

This guide is available to download as a pdf in four parts:

PE & Sport Spaces part 1; PE & Sport Spaces part 2;
PE & Sport Spaces part 3; PE & Sport Spaces part 4.


Transforming Schools: An Inspirational Guide to Remodelling Secondary Schools

Book cover image: Transforming Schools

Using real schools as examples, this book outlines the benefits of remodelling (with some new build) over total replacement, and discusses preparing for and implementing transformation, such as through BSF. Published in 2004.

The book highlights how the Exemplar Designs (see above) can be used in remodelling schools.

Download Transforming Schools

The compendium is a large document, and may take some time to download.


Exemplar Designs: Concepts and Ideas

Book cover image: Exemplar Designs

In 2003, the DfES commissioned eleven leading architectural firms to develop Exemplar Designs for primary, secondary and all-through schools, to demonstrate how high quality school designs could be achieved within the area and cost guidelines used as the basis of BSF funding.

Download Exemplar Designs