Ventilation Rates in Schools and Learning Performance

Abstract

SUMMARY Associations between classroom ventilation and pupils’ performance were investigated in primary schools in the United Kingdom. The concentration of carbon dioxide and other parameters were monitored for three weeks in two selected classrooms in each school. A direct air supply system through the windows was used to alter the ventilation rates in the classrooms. The system was set either to provide outdoor air or to re-circulate the classroom air while all other physical parameters were left unchanged. Computerised Assessment Tests and Paper-based Tasks were used to evaluate pupils’ performance. Pupils’ perceptions about the classroom environment, comfort, general mood and hunger were assessed on subjective scales. The present paper shows preliminary results obtained for one primary school out of eight being studied. Due to the intervention the fresh air supply increased from 0.3-05 to 1316 L/s per person that increased pupils’ work rate by ~7% in addition (p<0.036) and subtraction (p<0.052).