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advice for chair heights BS EN 1729

for children in foundation

Provide Sizemark 1 chairs.

for children in key stage 1
option one		Provide Sizemark 2 chairs.
implications		Small 5 year olds may find the chairs slightly too high.
option two		Provide adjustable chairs which will cover at least the ranges of Sizemark 1 and Sizemark 2.
implications		Adjustable furniture can be costly, but will provide the best fit to children. Furniture must be easy and quick to adjust to avoid disruption to lessons. Children will need to be trained in the use of such furniture. It will require a degree of classroom management to ensure correct fit.

for children in key stage 2
option one		Provide Sizemark 3 and Sizemark 4 chairs. Assuming that the entire range group of 7 to 10 year olds use the classrooms equally, one third of chairs should be Sizemark 3 and two thirds should be Sizemark 4.
implications		Purchasing furniture across three year groups will lead to a higher degree of mismatch, best fit must therefore be carefully monitored. As each classroom will have two sizes of chairs, a degree of classroom management is required to ensure correct fit (ie children sit at the appropriate height chair) Having a mixture of furniture can restrict the opportunity to vary class groupings for different subjects. Monitoring must take place to ensure that the children continue to require small furniture throughout the year.
option two		Provide adjustable chairs, which will cover at least the ranges of Sizemark 3 and Sizemark 4.
implications		Adjustable furniture can be costly, but will provide the best fit to children. Furniture must be easy and quick to adjust to avoid disruption to lessons. Children will need to be trained in the use of such furniture. It will require a degree of classroom management to ensure correct fit.
option three		Provide Sizemark 3 chairs only.
implications		Tall 9 year olds and most 10 year olds may find the chairs too low.
option four		Provide Sizemark 4 chairs only.
implications		Short 8 year olds and most 7 year olds may find the chairs too high.

for children at primary school
option one		Provide Sizemark 2, Sizemark 3 and Sizemark 4 chairs. Assuming that the entire range group of 5 to 11 year olds use the classrooms equally, one sixth of chairs should be Sizemark 2, two thirds should be Sizemark 3 and one sixth should be Sizemark 4.
implications		Purchasing furniture across three year groups will lead to a higher degree of mismatch, best fit must therefore be carefully monitored. As each classroom will have two sizes of chairs, a degree of classroom management is required to ensure correct fit (ie children sit at the appropriate height chair) Having a mixture of furniture can restrict the opportunity to vary class groupings for different subjects. Monitoring must take place to ensure that the children continue to require small furniture throughout the year.
option two		Provide adjustable chairs, which will cover at least the ranges of Sizemark 2, Sizemark 3 and Sizemark 4.
implications		Adjustable furniture can be costly, but will provide the best fit to children. Furniture must be easy and quick to adjust to avoid disruption to lessons. Children will need to be trained in the use of such furniture. It will require a degree of classroom management to ensure correct fit.
option three		Provide Sizemark 3 chairs only.
implications		Short 6 year olds and five year olds may find chairs too high Tall 9 year olds and 10 year olds may find chairs too low.
option four		Ensure that Keystage 1 and Keystage 2 children do not use the same classrooms and provide chairs suitable for Keystage 1 and Keystage 2.

for children in key stage 3
option one		Provide Sizemark 5 chairs only.
implications		Tall 13 year olds may find chairs slightly too low.
option two		Provide adjustable chairs, which will cover at least the ranges of Sizemark 4, Sizemark 5 and Sizemark 6.
implications		Adjustable furniture can be costly, but will provide the best fit to children. Furniture must be easy and quick to adjust to avoid disruption to lessons. Children will need to be trained in the use of such furniture. It will require a degree of classroom management to ensure correct fit.

for children in key stage 4
option one		Provide Sizemark 6 chairs only.
implications		Short 14 year olds may find chairs slightly too high.
option two		Provide adjustable chairs, which will cover at least the ranges of Sizemark 5 and Sizemark 6.
implications		Adjustable furniture can be costly, but will provide the best fit to children. Furniture must be easy and quick to adjust to avoid disruption to lessons. Children will need to be trained in the use of such furniture. It will require a degree of classroom management to ensure correct fit.

for children at secondary school
option one		Provide Sizemark 5 and Sizemark 6 chairs. Assuming that the entire range group of 11 to 16 year olds use the classrooms equally, one third of chairs should be Sizemark 5 and two thirds should be Sizemark 6.
implications		Purchasing furniture across three year groups will lead to a higher degree of mismatch, best fit must therefore be carefully monitored. As each classroom will have two sizes of chairs, a degree of classroom management is required to ensure correct fit (ie children sit at the appropriate height chair) Having a mixture of furniture can restrict the opportunity to vary class groupings for different subjects. Monitoring must take place to ensure that the children continue to require small furniture throughout the year.
option two		Provide adjustable chairs, which will cover at least the ranges of Sizemark 5 and Sizemark 6.
implications		Adjustable furniture can be costly, but will provide the best fit to children. Furniture must be easy and quick to adjust to avoid disruption to lessons. Children will need to be trained in the use of such furniture. It will require a degree of classroom management to ensure correct fit.
option three		Provide Sizemark 5 chairs only.
implications		Tall 14 and 15 year olds may find chairs too low.
option four		Provide Sizemark 6 chairs only.
implications		Short 12 year olds and 11 year olds may find chairs too high.

for children in post 16 educational institutions
option one		Provide Sizemark 6 chairs only.
implications		Very short children may find chairs slightly high low and very tall children may find chairs slightly too low.
option two		Provide adjustable chairs, which will cover at least the ranges of Sizemark 6 and Sizemark 7.
implications		Adjustable furniture can be costly, but will provide the best fit to children. Furniture must be easy and quick to adjust to avoid disruption to lessons. Children will need to be trained in the use of such furniture. It will require a degree of classroom management to ensure correct fit.

foundation	key stage 1	key stage 2	primary
key stage 3	key stage 4	secondary	16+

school furniture uk - advice

school furniture uk