Make sure every student is comfortable
Ok, so selecting the correct desk and chair sizes may not appear too challenging on the surface. In fact, it really should be straightforward, right?
Wrong. Get it wrong and students start squirming, become easily distracted and even develop lifelong back pain.
Fortunately though, there’s a tried and tested system for taking the hard work out of choosing the best furniture for every age group.
What we’ll cover:
- Why sizing school furniture matters
- All about the BS EN 1729 standard
- Size recommendations for each year group
- How to measure students the right way
- Common furniture sizing mistakes to avoid
Why Sizing School Furniture Matters
Let’s start with a little fact you might not realise…
During their school career, each pupil will spend up to 15,000 hours sitting in chairs. And that’s a whole lot of hours when poor-sized chairs lead to bad posture, aches and pains.
And the impact is more serious than you might think.
In fact, research shows that discomfort caused by badly fitted furniture causes students to have poor posture, fidget and struggle to concentrate. Classroom studies also highlighted a 16% difference in learning progress when comparing environments with varying physical characteristics, including furniture quality.
That’s why partnering with a reputable educational furniture for schools supplier is critical. Any UK educational furniture supplier worth their salt will support schools in getting the sizing right.
Correctly specified furniture should help students to:
- Sit upright
- Focus on learning
- Remain comfortable
- Avoid unnecessary strain
All pretty important goals, if you ask us.
BS EN 1729 Explained
There’s a national standard that all school furniture in the UK needs to adhere to.
This isn’t a bureaucratic exercise or meaningless legislation. BS EN 1729 is a very specific set of guidelines designed to make sure that every single desk and chair that schools buy are fit for purpose.
There are two elements to the standard:
- Part 1 – Functional Dimensions, which specifies the correct heights and measurements for chairs and tables, based on the age and size of the users.
- Part 2 – Safety Requirements, which sets out strength, durability and stability tests to ensure that all furniture can withstand daily wear and tear in a busy classroom.
The system uses six different “size marks”, from 0 to 6, each with associated chair heights (260mm – 460mm) and table heights (460mm – 760mm).
Put simply, schools don’t need to work anything out. All they need to do is match the size mark to the height range and age group of the users.
Size Recommendations for Every Year Group
Ok, let’s now look at the nitty gritty details of what works at each stage of education.
Early Years (3-5 years)
Kids in the earliest years of education need the smallest sized furniture. Sizes 0, 1 and 2 will typically cover this age group.
Recommended sizes:
- Chair heights of 260mm to 310mm
- Table heights of 460mm to 530mm
- Student heights between 800mm and 1080mm
The kids at this stage will vary hugely in size as they all grow. It’s worth having a range of sizes available in the classroom to cater for variation within the same year group.
Primary Years (5-11 years)
Primary school classrooms will normally have a combination of size marks 2, 3 and 4.
And the breakdown is:
- Years 1-2 pupils will fit in a size mark 2-3 with a chair height of 310mm-350mm.
- Years 3-4 children will need a size mark 3-4 with a chair height of 350mm-380mm.
- Years 5-6 students will need a size mark 4-5 with a chair height of 380mm-430mm.
The key is recognising that a child in Year 6 will be hugely taller than a child in Year 1. A single size does not fit all.
Secondary School (Years 7-11)
Students from Years 7 to 11 will use size marks 5 and 6.
Interesting things start to happen here…
Puberty can create massive growth spurts and students in Year 7 may well not be the same size as pupils in Year 10 and 11. By this stage, the furniture they’re using is basically adult-sized.
Recommended sizes:
- Size mark 5: 430mm chair height and 710mm table height.
- Size mark 6: 460mm chair height and 760mm table height.
A mistake many schools make is buying one size to fit the entire secondary cohort. That leads to a classroom of squirming and grumpy students and a wasted budget.
How to Measure Students the Right Way
Buying the right furniture starts with accurate measuring.
There are two key measurements:
- Stature: This is overall height, from the top of the head to the bottom of the feet.
- Popliteal Height: This is the measurement from the ground to the back of the knee. It is taken when a person is seated with feet flat on the floor and back upright.
A person is seated correctly when their feet are flat on the floor and their ankles, knees and hips are all at roughly 90 degrees to each other.
As for table height, measure from a seated position with the upper and lower arm at 90 degrees. The table top should be at elbow height.
It might sound like a lot of effort but, in reality, the classroom should have the right mix of sizes so that each child naturally gravitates to the furniture that fits.
Common School Furniture Sizing Mistakes to Avoid
Schools commonly make the same mistakes when it comes to buying desks and chairs.
Here are the pitfalls to watch out for:
- Buying just one size for all – Students within the same year group can vary massively in height. It’s vital to have multiple sizes available.
- Buying furniture that doesn’t meet the BS EN 1729 standard – Cheaper furniture may not always comply. But it won’t support students or last as long.
- Failing to review on an ongoing basis – Kids grow up! What’s right in September could be wrong by Easter. Regular measurement checks ensure everyone is comfortable.
- Mixing and matching different sets – Chairs and tables need to be compatible. A size 4 chair won’t work with a size 6 table (or vice versa). The whole set needs to be the right size.
The most successful schools treat desk and chair selection as a continuous process rather than a one-off purchase.
To Sum Up
The system for desk and chair sizing isn’t hard to understand.
The BS EN 1729 national standard lays everything out. All you need to do is match the size mark to the age group and height of the pupils. Stock a range of different sizes in each classroom. And carry out measurement checks to make sure everything is still right as they grow.
Quick recap:
- Early years classrooms require size marks 0-2
- Primary schools typically use size marks 2-5
- Secondary schools will need size marks 5-6
- Measure both stature and popliteal height
- Don’t fall into the one-size-fits-all trap
Investing the time in correctly sized furniture will reap huge rewards. Better concentration, improved posture and happier kids. It’s a win-win for the classroom.
