According to researchers Hannah Richardson and Dr Gweneth Leigh, secondary school students across public, private, suburban, and regional settings consistently report insufficient outdoor seating in their schoolyards. Funded through Frontiers developed by Hort Innovation with co-investment from Landscape Foundation Australia and contributions from the Australian government, the Schoolyard Greenprint project revealed that students frequently bypass standard picnic tables and benches to sit on the ground, steps, or lockers in groups.
Why Traditional Schoolyard Furniture Fails Students
Site observations during the research project showed that traditional two-seater benches and picnic tables often remain empty. Instead, students—particularly groups of girls—choose to sit in circles on the ground during winter, or improvise by sitting on steps and garden bed edges, as documented in the 4 volume guide.
Did you know? Landscape Architect Catherine Rush from Rush Wright observed that students naturally gravitate toward lounging in varied group configurations, making rigid, upright two-seater benches largely unpopular.
Designing for Social Intensity and Neurodivergent Needs
The research emphasizes that outdoor furniture must facilitate a spectrum of social activities, ranging from passive observation to high-intensity interactions. According to the findings, passive observation points—or perch points located on edges protected by vegetation—help neurodivergent students downregulate and feel safe by allowing them to watch the world without anyone positioned behind them.
Furthermore, medium-intensity social furniture, such as convex seats that allow students to face out, lets students share a space without necessarily touching or making eye contact. Conversely, concave and circular arrangements that are close together foster high-intensity social interactions that are particularly popular with female students.
Overcoming Australia’s Extreme Weather Challenges
Extreme weather puts significant pressure on outdoor school spaces. According to Marguerite Bartolo, a landscape architect from Swanbury Penglase in South Australia, composite plastic furniture can actually burn children and has been removed from projects. Bartolo points to natural timber or extruded aluminium as more resilient to winter and summer wear.
When schools lack adequate, comfortable outdoor seating options, both students and principals report negative consequences, including students retreating to school bathrooms and change rooms for quiet spaces, or deteriorating behavior when bad weather keeps them indoors.
Budget-Friendly Outdoor Seating Solutions
Upgrading schoolyard seating does not need to be expensive. Schools can implement cost-effective alternatives such as milk crates or stones arranged circles for high-intensity social interaction. Additionally, a log with a nice view provides functional medium-intensity social interaction, while hammocks—provided they avoid hard components that make them uncomfortable—offer popular resting options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Schoolyard Greenprint project?
The Schoolyard Greenprint is a 4 volume guide produced by the Health Research Institute at the University of Canberra, sharing findings from research into secondary school outdoor spaces.
What type of seating do high school students prefer?
According to research, students consistently request lounge style seating over upright seating, including seats that recline, hammocks, beanbags or even picnic rugs.
Which materials are best for outdoor school furniture in Australia?
Landscape architects recommend natural timber, extruded aluminium, and natural features like logs, while composite plastic can burn children.
Join the Conversation
What changes would your students make to their schoolyard? Share your thoughts in the comments below or contact the Schoolyard Greenprint team at [email protected] to learn more about improving student wellbeing through outdoor design.
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