Who are we?

The British Council for School Environments (BCSE) is a membership organisation made up of schools, local authorities, construction companies, architects, and all those involved in, and passionate about, designing excellent learning environments.
It acts as a forum for exchange, dialogue and advocacy for anyone interested in learning environments; from educators to policy makers, users to designers, managers to constructors.

Why do we exist?

The United Kingdom is in the midst of the largest investment in school buildings since Victorian times. This investment in education is a unique opportunity to design and deliver buildings that are capable of supporting new visions for teaching and learning, children’s services and the increasing community use of schools.

This opportunity needs to be fully realised to ensure that current investment is maximised. It will take cooperation within interrelated industries and between differing organizations to an unprecedented scale.

What do we do?

The BCSE exists to research, communicate and develop best practice in all aspects of school design and construction. Our mission is to stimulate continuous improvement in the commissioning, design, construction and use of school facilities and promote the link between excellence in teaching and learning and the learning environment.

How do we do it?

The BCSE is a membership organisation bringing together all those involved in the school design and construction business from both the public and private sector. It organises various events such as training sessions, design festivals, study tours in the UK and overseas, conferences and seminars. We also commission and conduct research, and have expert groups in areas such as Acoustics and Ventilation that allow participants to share problems and devise solutions.