Q) In your opinion what are the most important elements for schools to look for when choosing furniture?
A) Quality and versatility are the two most important elements to consider when choosing educational furniture. The higher quality ranges in educational furniture are accompanied by a longer guarantee period and offer up to date design, such as ergonomic seating creating a comfortable environment for each student. Furniture plays a key role in creating the correct learning environment within a school and suitable flexible furniture such as ergonomic chairs will enhance a child's learning experience. Changes in the curriculum in recent years have resulted in the traditional classroom environment being expanded to incorporate the outdoors. Seating that offers waterproof options creates additional teaching space for all seasons.
Q) The interiors of schools today is in many cases completely unrecognizable compared with those of 20 years ago, how has furniture evolved?
A) Building Schools for the Future and related programs have forced a redesign of the classroom and allowed modern design and technology to be incorporated in our schools. A recent change in the suggested heights for tables and chairs in schools is a result of study in 2001 linking ergonomic design and posture and children. Furniture has evolved as the curriculum expands and new demands are made on the classroom. New academies and schools incorporate modern design ideas and link technology to offer a package of bespoke fitted furniture designed with each child in mind.
Q) Cost is obviously an important factor, how would you advise schools to get the best value from there budget for furniture?
A) The best value is often perceived as the cheapest range availble; however, the quality ranges will last longer and offer longer guarantees as an assurance of quality. The best prices can often be sort from volume. The schools need to look at the number of replacement chairs for example, they generally order in a year and look to special offers or class packs to ensure they get the best deal. In addition the schools should focus on furniture that offers them more than one function or can be used in many different environments. Mobile options allow furniture to be moved between locations and height adjustable tables and chairs allow schools to use the furniture in any classroom regardless of the age of the students.
Q) How does Hope Education go about choosing the products for their furniture range?
A) The Hope Education furniture buying team monitors changes in the curriculum for developments in the learning environments required to ensure the range offers the customers the correct equipment. In addition, we work with BESA to ensure the correct recommendations for furniture regulations are met. We listen to the customer and regularly visit schools and nurseries for feedback on the ranges and new suggestions of how we can improve the furniture products.
Q) What customer support is offered (e.g. installation, warranties, etc)?
A) At Hope Education we offer extended guarantees for a selection of our solid wooden furniture ranges of 10 years. The quality mark on this furniture assures the customer of a superior range of furniture that will meet the rigours of the classroom environment. We also offer a no quibble 12 month guarantee which allows the customer to order with confidence. More recently we are offering the customer guaranteed delivery times to ensure the products are in the schools when they are needed which is perfect for any busy setting. In addition to this we now offer an unwrap and waste removal service on our most popular range this ensures the correct item is delivered with no damages and also saves the school the effort of getting rid of the packaging.
Q) Building schools for the future is dramatically affecting the education sector and the fabric of schools, what opportunities does this create for the furniture sector?
A) The changing face of our modern schools and state of the art facilities creates a unique opportunity for the advances in technology to be incorporated in the fabric of the building and the furniture from electronic white boards to carbon and light sensitive windows. The trends we see in the high street rarely move into the education market however the BSF projects allow new designs and new thinking to evolve a very traditional range of furniture that meets the needs of the 21st century.
Q) What are the main considerations/differences relating to furniture when approaching either the primary or secondary schools?
A) Both sectors of the education system require different equipment and furniture is no exception. The Primary range allows the classroom to be used for a variety of subjects offering versatile furniture that can be manipulated to create different learning environments in one room from cosy corners to circle time. The secondary range is centred on the subject areas within the curriculum and offers specific furniture for the needs of the subject. The colour and style of the furniture differs greatly in the primary and secondary ranges. The traditional colour palette in the primary furniture range offers the customers bright fun functional furniture designed to brighten any classroom. The secondary range often breaks from the narrow colour scheme of the primary range and uses different mediums such as Perspex and glass.
