A large secondary school with significant community use.

1. The Mountbatten School, Romsey 1200 pupils A large secondary school with significant community use. This extensive site is located on the edge of a residential area.

2. Working with the Schools Landscape Programme an evaluation of the lunch break showed that: • Pupils valued their long lunch break • But the majority were choosing to stay in their form rooms • 68% (820 no) identified it as their ‘favourite place’ • Staff were concerned about the social and educational consequences of large numbers of pupils choosing to stay within their form rooms

3. An evaluation of the outdoor spaces gave some clues about why this might be happening…

4. The school had a large site but the design, use and management of the space was limiting opportunities. • Many spaces were ‘no go’ areas • Others could only be used for sport • Parking infiltrated key spaces • Spaces developed solely for social and breaktime use were • - limited in number • - poor quality in terms of size, location, micro-climate and design.

5. Evaluation revealed one particular key space as an area of opportunity.

6. Serving ‘Hatch’ from kitchens This space was.... • Centrally located, so potentially easy to supervise and access…… • Next to food outlets so used as an eating area…… It was also .... • A sheltered space • On a main route used throughout the day as pupils changed lessons

7. The solution to this key space became an important part of the whole site strategy.

8. Within this space the strategy set out the need to: • relocate parking • implement management changes for deliveries • re define use of the released area as: • a social, recreational space • an outdoor eating area • a gathering space for various school and community events Car park eating social, meeting, gathering community

9. Serving ‘Hatch’ from kitchens The action plan for implementing the strategy identified this space as the initial priority Before

10. A design brief was prepared, and with the support of Hampshire’s Property, Business and Regulatory Services, the necessary funding and appropriate advice was secured to refurbish and restrucure this whole central area to a pupil orientated space.

11. The design was inspired by the schools language college status. ‘Talk tubes’ connect separate shelters and radios enable European language stations to be broadcast or the space filled with music. Pupils continued to be closely involved by having a creative input into the design of the features.

12. The school describe how involving the pupils has helped them to bring lasting benefits: ‘It was interesting and beneficial to go through the evaluation process to get the pupils’ perspective on what kinds of areas they wanted to spend their free time in. We are sure that the fact that they were involved is responsible for the successful outcome. The new area is an excellent ‘chill-out’ space for pupils, particularly the younger ones who choose to meet their friends from other tutor groups outside, rather than staying inside.’ Headteacher.