Reimagining the Classroom;
The Grammar School at Leeds
“It isn’t just about having furniture that moves;
it’s about embedding flexibility into our whole educational ethos.
Gabrielle Solti, Vice Principal and Head of Primary , The Grammar School at Leeds
Introduction of the Agile Classroom
Gabrielle brought prior experience with flexible furniture from a previous school, fully understanding its benefits for collaboration and adaptable learning.
“I very much believe in environments where children can collaborate and work closely together—it’s very important for their learning.
Having furniture that moves and removes the traditional fixed front of the classroom supports and enhances that experience,” she explains.
When GSAL began envisioning its new primary learning environment, the leadership team saw the opportunity to create something innovative—an agile school that would reflect the expertise from both former schools. A key part of that vision was designing classrooms that encouraged communication. As one of GSAL’s core values is to be brave and have a powerful voice, fostering environments that support students in learning to communicate, listen, and share ideas was essential.
Full Story
When The Grammar School at Leeds set out to bring together its Pre-Prep and Prep phases into a single, unified primary school, they saw an opportunity to do more than just restructure.
At the heart of this vision? Agile, student-centred classrooms that support collaboration, communication, and flexible teaching.
They replaced static layouts with moveable, modular furniture that could flex with each lesson. Teachers led the transformation, experimenting with new layouts, sharing best practice, and embedding agile approaches during INSET days.
The impact has been significant. Students feel more comfortable and focused. Teachers feel empowered to teach more dynamically. And for children with additional needs, the movement-friendly design has proven especially powerful — supporting sensory regulation.
“It’s not just about furniture that moves,” says Gabrielle Solti, Head of Primary. “It’s about embedding flexibility into our entire educational ethos.”
And five years on, the feedback speaks volumes: better engagement, smoother collaboration, and a space that truly reflects the way GSAL wants its students to learn and grow.
What do the pupils think?:
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