NDCS Cymru calls on Welsh Assembly to make sure new schools Sound Good

NDCS has uncovered evidence in England that new school buildings are not complying with acoustic regulations. As the Welsh Assembly embarks on it’s 21st Century Schools programme to rebuild and refurbish schools, we want to make sure that the same mistakes are not repeated in Wales.

The way a school is built can have a big impact on the noise levels of a classroom. NDCS Cymru believes it is essential that school buildings have good acoustics to ensure that deaf children are able to hear lessons as clearly as possible. As such, it  is important that new builds comply with the UK regulations on school acoustics, known as Building Bulletin 93 (BB93).

NDCS Cymru has informed Jane Hutt, Minister for Children Education and Lifelong Learning, and a number of other Assembly Members about our concerns.

Ann Jones AM, has already written to all the local authorities in Wales to seek assurance that they are observing the regulations on school acoustics.

This month we also met with Welsh Assembly officials who are involved in the Assembly’s 21st Century Schools Programme. They have promised to take our concerns onboard and to highlight the issue at their meeting with local authority officials.

NDCS Cymru will continue to campaign for assurances that new school builds will comply with BB93.

BB93 is not compulsory for college buildings which do not share a site with a school. NDCS Cymru is also campaigning for compliance with BB93 to be compulsory for college builds.

Take action

We need your help. Whether you're a child, parent of a deaf child or a professional working with deaf children, please get in touch to let us know about your own experiences - positive or negative - of acoustics in schools in Wales.

Please feel free to give as much information as you can. For example, you could tell us about:

• the impact that acoustics in the classroom have had on your deaf child. 
• what action was taken by the school to resolve any issues raised.  
• the type of school and classroom your deaf child goes to (is it a new or old school, a unit or a mainstream school and so on). 

We will use your stories to tell the Welsh Assembly why high quality acoustics are essential. We will anonymise any information you supply at your request.

Email us direct at campaigns.wales@ndcs.org.uk with your experiences or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.

You can also contact your MP at Westminster at this issue. Although education is devolved to the Wales Assembly, your MP can still help support our campaign.