Good acoustics are incredibly important in any learning environment. When poor, they can have a huge impact on both students and teachers in many ways.

Studies show that purposeful noise can bring energy to a learning space, with unwanted noise being what creates distraction.

In a study by Ryan Hannah from Western Michigan University, he highlighted how the classroom environment plays a major impact on student learning. He claims the main factors that affect a child’s learning are:

• Design of the classroom
• Seating arrangements
• Temperature

And of course, classroom acoustics.

It’s clear that acoustics are important. So, how can they be improved? 

In this guide, we explore how you can go about improving acoustics in your classrooms, creating an environment where it’s easy for all to focus and for students to succeed.

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Noisy classrooms or teaching areas that are affected by outside noise can cause problems, such as:

• Issues poor acoustics cause in classrooms
• Ways to improve classroom acoustics
• Long term impact of good acoustics
• Classrooms designed for low noise learning

Issues poor acoustics cause in classrooms

Classrooms should be spaces of focus, where it’s easy for students to concentrate and absorb information. Poor acoustics, however, bring numerous issues that can have a huge impact on learning – and these effects aren’t limited to students alone.

Difficulty Focusing and Processing Information

Background noise and echoes can be a real distraction to students, particularly those with learning difficulties or neurodivergent conditions such as ADHD, autism, or auditory processing disorders. For some students, poor acoustics can make focusing and processing information nearly impossible, creating barriers to their educational success.

Communication Struggles

Poor acoustics make speech harder to understand, leading to miscommunication and frustration. Teachers may need to raise their voices or repeat themselves frequently, leading to vocal strain and fatigue over time.

External noise from corridors, playgrounds, or nearby rooms further disrupts communication. When sound isn’t properly absorbed, classroom chatter becomes amplified, making the space feel louder and more chaotic than it actually is.

Reduced Engagement and Learning Outcomes

Students may lose interest or disengage due to difficulty hearing or concentrating. With these struggles, information isn’t absorbed or absorbed correctly, meaning overall academic outcomes are likely to be affected. The impact of poor acoustics can not just affect daily lessons but long term in what students achieve.

What are the acoustic regulations in schools?

The BB93 describes the decibel (dB) limits when it comes to classroom acoustics in new buildings and refurbishments.

This table gives some examples of acceptable ambient noise levels for different parts of a school during classroom hours.

School Room	Upper Limit for New Buildings	Upper Limit for Refurbishments
Nursery	35	40
Primary School Rooms (General)	35	40
Primary Music Room	35	40
Secondary School (General)	35	40
Open Plan Teaching/Resource Areas	40	45
Lecture Rooms (50+ people)	35	40
Classrooms for hearing impaired (including speech therapy rooms)	30	35
Indoor Sports Hall	40	45

The Building Bulletin 92 (BB93) lists the regulations for all room types

The limits described in the report are focused on new buildings and refurbishments. As some schools are in old buildings, it’s hard for them to comply with the conditions.

3 ways to improve classroom acoustics

There are many ways you can improve the acoustics in your classroom:

1. Adjust Layout

Where furniture is positioned in a classroom can have a big impact on how sound is treated in the space. Positioning furniture closer to walls can help reduce echoing by diffusing sound reflections.

Separating desks rather than having them joined together can also help contain and muffle noise. This arrangement can improve student concentration by separating groups and reducing background chatter.

2. Add Sound-Absorbing Materials

Incorporating soft materials into your classroom’s design can really help improve acoustics. 

Consider adding:

• Soft furnishings like bean bags and cushioned chairs
• Wall decorations such as pictures, paintings, or fabric wall hangings
• Acoustic panels which can create an attractive feature wall while serving a functional purpose
• Carpet instead of hard flooring
• Specialist sound-absorbing paint designed specifically for noise reduction 

Even small additions can make a noticeable difference in reducing echo and absorbing excess noise.

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3. Soundproof door and windows

Noise from traffic, students, and vehicles passing by can be noisy and distracting when trying to learn. Covering windows with soundproof curtains or blinds, as well as sealing gaps around frames, can help block external sound from entering and reduce internal echoing.

Installing a solid door with a good seal can also make a big difference to how sound travels both in and out of the room, creating a more controlled acoustic environment.

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Long term impact of good acoustics

Improving classroom acoustics creates a calmer, more focused environment that supports both teaching and learning.

For teachers, better acoustics means they can communicate clearly without raising their voices, making their job easier and reducing the vocal strain and stress they may have once experienced.

For students, improved sound quality will lead to better engagement and academic performance. Students with sensory sensitivities or learning differences particularly benefit from reduced auditory distractions.

Investing in acoustic improvements, your classrooms will become a space where everyone can work happily and reach their full potential.

Classrooms designed for low noise learning

Whether you’re looking to improve a single classroom or your entire school, our experts are here to help. We specialise in designing low noise learning spaces aligned with all regulations. To manage sound levels, we can:

• Install soundproofing tiles and panels on walls and ceilings
• Fix acoustic sealing on doors
• Improve thin or cracked walls
• Choose furniture that can block or dampen sound waves from travelling
• Design a teaching area which can manage sound

Whatever teaching space you need, complete refurbishment or simple layout reshuffle, look no further than Elm.

Ready to improve your students’ performance? Book a free design consultation with our classroom experts today. Our spaces, you can count on to be low noise and to inspire.

Need some inspiration? Take a look take at some of our work. We’ve worked with leading educational institutions, including for the University of Oxford and Greenwich School of Management.