The author of this article is the Managing Director of School Works, a groundbreaking school design initiative working in collaboration with partners such as the Architecture Foundation, DfES, Demos, and schools. School Works is a not for profit company which works to link the design of secondary school buildings with their impact on the teaching, learning, culture and management of those schools. Participation and partnership are at the heart of their approach, connecting those who work and learn in schools with those who design and build them. The author argues that there is a need not only to ensure school buildings are beautiful and inspirational, but that they are functional, effectively linking design quality with the management and organisation of learning spaces.