I read with interest your recent article on free schools (10 September, page 42) and agree wholeheartedly, in principle, that existing buildings should be considered for conversion into so-called free schools
However, groups of parents and teachers tasked to find a suitable location for their school should proceed with caution. As your article highlights, acoustics are one of the main challenges when converting buildings (apart from magistrates’ courts) into classrooms. It has been widely acknowledged that good acoustics are paramount to learning environments, so why should free schools not be as acoustically sound as any other state school? Shortcomings already exist in the BB93 regulations, so to relax the guidelines any further, as has been suggested, would be counterproductive.
Free school groups should draw on the expertise of acoustic product manufacturers. We can help them create a sound learning environment.
Paul Absolon, technical director, CMS Acoustic Solutions
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