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Clutter Kills Learning: How Teaching Walls Boost Focus and Flow in Classrooms

  • Rob Main
  • Nov 21, 2025
  • 3 min read

A 2024 study by the Education Endowment Foundation found that reducing visual clutter in classrooms can improve pupil progress by up to 16%, particularly for pupils with SEND or attention difficulties.



Teaching Has Evolved But Many Classrooms Haven’t


In 2025, classrooms are expected to support far more than traditional teaching. From blended learning to neurodiverse support, schools need layouts that enhance, not hinder, focus and organisation.


Yet in many schools, the physical environment is working against learning outcomes.


Visual clutter, mismatched furniture, and ad-hoc storage create overstimulation, distraction, and a lack of spatial order that makes learning harder for pupils and teaching harder for staff.


The solution? Integrated, minimal, space-efficient teaching walls.



Why Clutter Is More Than a Cosmetic Problem


The layout and structure of a classroom directly influence:


  • Pupil focus and working memory

  • Stress and sensory load, especially for neurodiverse pupils

  • Sightlines for teaching and supervision

  • Classroom movement and transitions

  • Time spent locating resources or tidying up


When books, trays, tech, and equipment are scattered across open shelving or under tables, the whole environment becomes disorganised.


That disorganisation affects pupil attention, behaviour and confidence.



Teaching Walls: An Elegant Solution to a Messy Problem


Teaching walls aren’t just furniture—they’re classroom infrastructure. By consolidating display boards, smartboards, whiteboards, storage, tray units and AV tech into a single integrated wall, they:


  • Clear floor space

  • Eliminate scattered storage

  • Centralise lesson delivery

  • Improve visual structure

  • Allow for faster setup and less daily prep


Classrooms instantly become calmer, more orderly, and easier to supervise and maintain.



Why Teaching Walls Support Inclusive Classrooms


For students with SEND or sensory processing issues, unpredictable, cluttered environments can be overwhelming.


Teaching walls provide:


  • Predictability – resources are always in the same place

  • Reduced visual noise – clear surfaces and uniform design

  • Quieter operation – closed storage reduces handling noise

  • Structure – teaching is naturally centralised and sequenced


This kind of design isn’t just practical—it’s inclusive. And it benefits every student in the room.



The Benefits for Teachers and MATs


 Teachers benefit too:


  • Less time spent searching for or resetting equipment

  • More consistent delivery across classrooms

  • More control over layout and resources

  • Easier classroom management


For growing Multi-Academy Trusts, teaching walls also offer:


  • Brand alignment across campuses

  • Centralised procurement and layout strategy

  • Durable, easy-to-clean, long-lasting storage solutions

  • DfE-compliant design with a unified look and feel


It’s a scalable, smart investment.



Why Brookhouse Teaching Walls Stand Out


Brookhouse has been designing and installing teaching walls across the UK for over 30 years. We offer:


  • Fully bespoke designs for each room size and use

  • Durable Solid Grade Laminate finishes in a range of calming colours

  • Integrated tech access and AV compatibility

  • Built-in whiteboards, storage, shelving, tray units and sink options

  • Delivered and installed during term breaks or phased projects

  • Designed with DfE, SEND and safeguarding in mind


Whether it’s a single classroom or a trust-wide rollout—we make transformation simple and cost-effective.



Final Thought A cluttered space can hold back even the best teacher. Teaching walls restore clarity, order, and calm to the classroom. So teachers can focus on teaching, and students can focus on learning


Want to see how a teaching wall could transform your space? Let Brookhouse help you create a smarter, calmer classroom.


Ready to put your funding to work?


Get in touch with Brookhouse on 0345 383 0050, or email us on inspire@brookhouseuk.com


Let’s design a space that enables success.







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