Montgomeryshire Assembly Member, Russell George, has today (3rd January) signed a New Year’s Resolution in support of the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) Cymru campaign to make new school, nursery and college buildings accessible to children with a hearing loss.
The charity’s campaign highlights that acoustic standards for school buildings have often been ignored, leaving children across Wales struggling to learn in noisy and echoing classrooms.
New research from NDCS Cymru shows that less than a third of schools built in Wales between 2003 and 2010 received any input from an acoustic expert. It also shows that just 11 per cent of schools built during this time were tested to check that they met acoustic standards*.
Poor acoustics in schools create a barrier to learning for all children, but present a particular barrier for children with a hearing loss (i). There are more than 1,700 deaf pupils in Wales (ii). Furthermore, 80 per cent of all children will experience temporary hearing loss before they reach the age of ten (iii).
Last year, following calls from NDCS Cymru, the Welsh Government agreed to make sure that schools funded through its 21st Century Schools Programme would meet acoustic standards. This was great news, but only affects schools funded in this way.
NDCS Cymru now wants the Welsh Government to go one step further and use powers it received on 31 December to strengthen regulations on school acoustics. Assembly Members are being urged to show their support by signing up to a special New Year’s Resolution.
Mr George said:
“I fully support the work of NDCS Cymru to make sure that all new school, nursery and college buildings in Wales meet a minimum acoustic standard and I believe that their campaign will make a real difference to deaf children.
“I was alarmed when I learnt about the difficulties that school children with a hearing loss face when trying to follow their teacher in a classroom with poor acoustics. I am calling on my fellow Mid Wales Assembly Members to back the campaign and give deaf children the best chance of achieving their full potential at school.”
Jayne Dulson, NDCS Cymru Director, says: “It is fantastic that Russell George is supporting our campaign on this vital issue.
“Good acoustics in schools are important for all children, but particularly so for deaf children. Although many deaf children use devices such as hearing aids and cochlear implants to access sound, these become almost useless in noisy classrooms.
“Last year, we worked with the Welsh Government to ensure that schools funded through its 21st Century Schools Programme would meet acoustic standards. This was a definite step in the right direction but it only affects schools funded in that way. We now need the Welsh Government to go one step further and ensure all new school, nursery and college buildings in Wales will sound good – regardless of how they are funded!
“We are urging more Assembly Members to sign up to the New Year’s Resolution and show their support for school, nursery and college buildings that sound good.”
Please visit www.ndcs.org.uk/nyacoustics, where it only takes a few clicks to contact all your local Assembly Members and ask them to sign up to the New Year’s Resolution.
