Innovative Air Quality Initiative Enhances Learning Environment at Sandfield Primary School

Located in the bustling heart of Guildford, Sandfield Primary faces challenges with high levels of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP). To address this issue, the GCARE team has introduced a cost-effective intervention combining indoor green infrastructure and industrial-grade sticky mats to mitigate the impact of TRAP on students and staff.

The Year 6 classroom, located just 2.25 meters from Stoke Road, now boasts a continuous hedge-type structure featuring over 30 potted plants lining the windowsills. This natural barrier serves as a filter, shielding students and teachers from potential TRAP infiltration while enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the classroom. Additionally, an innovative sticky mat positioned at the classroom entrance effectively captures dust and pollutants from shoes, ensuring a cleaner indoor environment from the moment the occupants step inside.

This innovative solution aims to reduce operational costs while seamlessly integrating within the school's existing infrastructure. The result is not only an improvement in air quality but also a visually appealing addition to the classroom environment, enhancing the overall learning experience for students and teachers alike.

Professor Prashant Kumar, Surrey’s principal investigator of the SAMHE project and founding Director of GCARE, explained “our previous monitoring works have clearly shown that dust is resuspended in classrooms, while their mitigation is limited to ventilation performances. While the increasing energy prices and the need to ensure pupils’ thermal comfort, have made it impossible during the winter months. Especially, due to the natural climate characteristics in the UK, most classrooms rely on natural ventilation for the supply of fresh air and to dilute air pollutants, and therefore there is an urgent need for innovative solutions. “ 

Sandfield Primary School's head, Mrs. Collins, added “We welcome this type of innovation, to ensure that air quality in our classrooms is as good as it can be for the health of all pupils and adults working within that space. There was very positive feedback about the indoor green infrastructure on the windowsills, as it improved their feeling of wellbeing, creating a calming and positive feel to the classroom. We thank the GCARE team for pushing the boundaries of innovation and we are proud to be a key partner in these pioneering efforts.”     

PhD candidate Wickson Cheung said “It’s a wonderful opportunity for young PhD researchers like me to have an opportunity to participate in such trials. Our GCARE team is analysing how these interventions enhance indoor environmental quality, with an aim to produce best practise recommendations. We are also exploring opportunities to extend these interventions to more classrooms and schools and to study their synergies with existing solutions like air purifiers. 

Sandfield Primary School has been at the forefront of classroom and school air pollution research, with initiatives such as CoGreen happening on the premises. Through initiatives like this, Sandfield Primary School and GCARE are pioneering efforts to create healthier and more conducive learning environments for students, setting a precedent for schools nationwide.