Sixth forms play a crucial role in the UK education system providing a bridge between secondary school and higher education or employment. For students the sixth form experience offers more independence,enabling the self-discipline and critical thinking skills necessary for life beyond the school gates.
Educational establishments are increasingly recognising that this 16-19 age group need a different working environment from the lower school. We are proud to have worked with many educational establishments to design sixth form settings which are contemporary and comfortable, stylish and sturdy.
At Ruislip High we transformed a space to enhance student experience. We created a modern, bright and highly social space separated into zones, each one featuring different furniture styles including high back soft seating together with poseur and dining tables for the cafeteria style canteen. The School’s blue and green branding was reflected in the furniture colour choices which we carried through into the staff room.
We enjoyed working with the School’s Project Manager, Clare Smith, who told us she appreciated our “immense patience to work and then re-work a scheme many times over” and that our “clever mix of standard, budget classroom furniture and items in a higher price range had created a very satisfying result.”
The Independent International School in London came to us to create inspiring tech-enabled spaces. As well as sourcing innovative seating options, including some contemporary tub chairs with oak legs, and carpeting some areas to create a relaxed vibe, we designed and built bespoke benching which the school call ‘furbicles’.
We worked closely with the School’s Facilities Manager who told us: “We feel like we’ve gone up a grade! This is not standard school furniture, it has more of a work-place feel to it and the students appreciate that.”
Sixth form design solutions need to be robust as well as stylish. At Uxbridge High School we recommended sturdy cantilever framechairs which are not only elegant but also practical as they are easy to put on desks, making it much quicker to clean classrooms. We selected a mix of unconventional trapezoidal and rectangular tables to offer flexible layouts and the Natural Nordic Wood finish and silver frames deliver a grown-up, efficient feeling space.
We were delighted to be part of a major project to refurbish London’s biggest sixth form college in Newham, NewVic Sixth Form Centre. Our mission was to design an inspiring environment which would motivate students to achieve their best. We introduced plectrum-shaped tables to encourage small groups of up to three students to work together effectively and provided soft seating where students could connect their mobile devices and work in a more relaxed, university style environment. In the learning resource centre we delivered a choice of individual and collaborative study areas and according to Rodney Kain, the Learning Resource Manager at New Vic, they have proved very popular. He says: "The feedback we've had from students is they absolutely love it. They love the individual spaces”.
Whether you’re looking to refurbish an existing sixth form space or fitting-out a new one, our consultancy, space planning, design and installation service will guide you through every step of the project. Email sales@foursquarefurniture.uk for a free consultation.
Contact us now to arrange an online or in-person appointment.
T: 01923 774242 E: sales@foursquarefurniture.uk