How about we explore a space designed for active minds? That space is Skapaskolan. Welcome to Skapaskolan in Huddinge, south of Stockholm. This is not just any school. Skapaskolan is a place where learning is reimagined.
Skapaskolan accommodates students from grades one to ten. There are around 485 students and 53 staff members here. This school stands out because of its unique approach to classroom design.
Forget traditional classrooms. At Skapaskolan, they have studios. These studios are twice the size of normal classrooms. To make this work, they have larger groups. Around fifty students are in each group. The reason for this setup? They always want to have two teachers in the classroom.
Teacher Linnea Bay explains how they manage such large groups. She says a grade here has about 54 children. During the day, they mainly divide them into two groups. Sometimes, they split them into smaller groups. Other times, they all come together. This happens during morning assembly, story time, or show and tell.
When the students are split into two groups, they go to studio A or studio B. The teachers might start with an introduction or show a movie. As the children begin working together, they blend. Some might do math. Others might do a science experiment or read. They can be anywhere in the room. They could be in the loft or in a quiet room.
School Head Fredrik Plahn explains the reasons behind this approach. They want active students. They want variation in teaching. They want the children to cooperate. They aim to create safe places. Here, students can work individually. Also, teachers keep learning by working with someone else all day.
You might wonder how they manage noise and keep everyone focused. Linnea Bay admits it can be a challenge. They work with the children on cooperative learning strategies. Some children naturally cooperate well. Others find it a struggle.
The Skapaskolan building itself is also special. It was built between 2018 and 2019. The building is a passive house with three floors. The facade has standing wooden panels of decreasing lengths. The windows are triple-paned with insulating glass. The outer roof consists of sheet metal. There is also a partial sedum roof and solar cells.
Fredrik Plahn believes anyone can adopt similar ideas. He thinks the most important thing is to know what you want to achieve before making changes.
Skapaskolan is more than just a building. It is a vision of what education can be. It emphasizes cooperation, activity, and personalized learning. As you leave Skapaskolan, consider how learning spaces can shape the learning experience. This innovative school provides a glimpse into the future of education.