METRIC EDUCATION EVENTS / Spaces to belong
James Clarke - November 2026
Spaces to belong
Mainstream schools are being put under increasing pressure to provide appropriate facilities for students who are neurodiverse but who’s EHCP does not require them to attend a Special School. Whilst government funding is available to help create inclusive spaces within state-maintained schools, it is limited and independent schools too are facing increasing pressure on their budgets whilst fee-paying parents’ expectations are at the same time increasing. So to help all schools understand ways to achieve spaces within their own unique schools to support all students, including those with neurodiversities, we’ve put together a panel of experts to explain the research behind neuroinclusive design for learning spaces and share examples of ‘quick wins’ for schools.
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Personalised learning and the built environment.
James Clarke is part of Metric’s Education team based in Egham where he works primarily with independent and SEN schools. He has designed learning spaces for schools throughout the UK, mainland Europe, the Middle and Far East, on whole-school projects as well as individual projects as diverse as makerspaces through to counselling suites. He understands the challenges schools face in meeting the physical needs of their diverse student populations and, with lived experience of neurodiversity led him to focus his recent research on the whole spectrum of SEND students.
Inclusive school-design is when all students can say: “I have the perfect conditions for me to learn“.
Dr. Michael Kirch who worked for 20 years as a teacher at public and private schools in Germany and abroad. For another 20 years, he served as a lecturer at the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich. School development and school transformation are the focus of his work for the city of Munich. Dr. Michael Kirch advises schools, architects, and municipalities on matters related to new school construction, school renovations and school design.
Creating inclusive education spaces, where everybody feels well and is able to grow.
Chantal Rouw is Head of Design at Dutch furniture manufacturer, Eromesmarko, where she is responsible for the company’s creative strategy. She is passionate designing vision-driven scenarios, impactful concepts, and high-caliber product solutions for education. Together with her studio team, consisting of designers, architects and specialists, she transforms many of the daily challenges faced by the education sector into successful learning environments.
