From nurseries to colleges, engaging, colourful and informative wall displays and art installations can transform any space into the perfect setting for learning. As we move into 2026, there are a number of trends due to be big-hitters when it comes to school wall art. These are:
- Sports Walls
- Values
- Local Culture and History Murals
- Timelines
- Books and Authors
Whether they tie in with cultural events, your school ethos or curriculum priorities, school wall displays can bring any educational setting to life.
Looking for some wall art for your school, but not sure where to start? This article features galleries of real bespoke wall art installations by Design for Education, along with insights into materials, benefits and emerging trends, giving you all the information you need to invest in impactful wall art installations.
Get in touch with our experienced team to request your free site survey.
Sports Walls
Why Are Sports Walls An Upcoming Trend In 2026?
With the Commonwealth Games coming to Glasgow in 2026, sports and PE will be a big focus in schools across the UK. With the games running from 23rd July 2026 to 2nd August 2026, getting young people excited about the international games can ignite a curiosity and desire to follow the event throughout the summer holiday.
With Para Athletics fully integrated in the Games, your wall art can also reflect the diversity and inclusivity of modern sports. Consider showcasing inspiring profiles of both able-bodied and Para athletes, motivational quotes, interesting sports facts or interactive challenges that encourage students to get active.
The Weston Road Academy Sports Wall Art
The Weston Road Academy Sports Wall Art
Sheffield Springs Academy Sports Corridor Wall Art
Where Can I Have A Sports Wall In My School?
Our school wall art is bespoke, made to fit your space and crafted by a team of educational design specialists. Made of high-quality materials, our wall art is durable and comes with a 5-year guarantee. So whether you want it in a corridor, a classroom or even in a sports hall being hit by footballs and shuttlecocks, they are made to last. Design for Education also installs wall art in outdoor areas, using fence-mounted displays to suit playing fields and pitches.
What Are The Benefits Of A Sports Wall?
PE lessons largely consist of moving the body, learning physical skills and sportsmanship through games. A wall art display that features facts, quotes, athlete profiles and diagrams helps to motivate students, inspire curiosity about lesser-known sports and reinforce techniques or rules learnt during PE lessons. It can transform an empty wall or fence into an engaging, inspirational resource that supports in-lesson learning and encourages students to stay active.
Values Wall Art Displays
Why Are Values Wall Art Displays An Upcoming Trend In 2026?
British Values are expected to be promoted in schools throughout the UK. They are:
- Democracy
- The rule of law
- Individual liberty
- Mutual respect
- Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
Alongside these British Values, most schools have their own set of core values which might include honesty, curiosity, reflection or forgiveness. As values become an integral part of school life, having them form part of school displays helps to remind learners what is expected of them.
[Image Gallery]
All Catholic High School Values Wall
Bronte Girls Academy Values Wall
Reddish Vale High School Values Wall
Where Can I Have Values Wall Art In My School?
Popular areas for displays on British Values and school core values are school halls, entrances and corridors. Working with a professional wall art team, such as Design for Education, means there’s no need to limit yourself – we can install your values wall art anywhere you require it.
What Are The Benefits Of Values Wall Art Displays?
Learners, teachers and visiting families alike will be able to view the core values being promoted within your setting. Serving as an introduction to your school, or a regular reminder for learners needing to make good choices, having a visual aid of key values helps to ingrain them into daily school life.
Values wall art installation can also help to showcase your school’s commitment to the new 2025 Ofsted Education Inspection Framework, particularly highlighting Attendance and Behaviour, and Personal Development and Wellbeing. Learn more about this in our blog, ‘How School Wall Art Supports Ofsted’s New Inspection Priorities’.
Local Culture and History Murals
Why Are Local Culture And History Murals An Upcoming Trend In 2026?
Murals have long been a vibrant feature of school displays, offering a unique opportunity for creative expression. While bespoke designs can bring any theme to life, an exciting trend for 2026 is celebrating a school’s local culture and history. These displays can celebrate your local area’s biggest stars, shine a light on unsung heroes or showcase iconic imagery from your local area.
Local Culture Mural Hessle Academy
Local Culture Mural King Edward VII Academy
Local Culture Mural Sheffield Springs Academy
Where Can I Have A Local Culture and History Mural In My School?
Wherever you have a space, we can design and install a mural that celebrates and honours your local culture and history. A mural celebrating local culture and history is a fantastic addition to a reception area or foyer, for new starters and visitors who might be new to the area, welcoming them to more than just the school. Alternatively, why not consider using local culture and history to enrich your other school wall displays – with local musicians, sports people or old photos of nearby streets?
What Are The Benefits Of A Local Culture And History Mural?
Whether born locally or elsewhere, students can explore the rich culture and history of their community. This isn’t just limited to famous or successful people. It can also include popular inventions that came from the area, information on buildings with an interesting history and community heroes they might never have heard of.
Westgate Literary Timeline Wall Art
Westgate Literary Timeline Corridor
George Salter Academy Timeline Corridor
George Salter Academy Timeline Wall Art
Timelines
Why Are Timelines An Upcoming Trend In 2026?
Timelines aren’t just reserved for history displays. They are a multipurpose educational tool that provide a helpful and accessible visual aid of a subject. They can be used for most subjects, like the history of the Olympics or the development of the internet. Timeline displays naturally fill longer spaces, utilising otherwise unused wall areas
Where Can I Have A Timeline Wall Display In My School?
Though they particularly suit long areas like external walls and corridors, timeline displays can be put anywhere, using creative designs to maximise the effect even in a smaller space. Timelines are particularly effective in areas in which learners line up – giving engaging and educational stimulus as they move down the line. With a mixture of photos, illustrations and text, it’s guaranteed to liven up your space.
What Are The Benefits Of A Timeline Wall Display?
Remembering dates can be difficult for some learners, but timelines provide a visual learning experience. Seeing images and photographs in position helps to provide a more concrete correlation between events or milestones. This visual approach helps to improve memory retention, make abstract concepts easier to understand and help learners engage with history or a range of other subjects in a more meaningful way.
Books and Author Wall Displays
Why Are Book and Author Wall Displays An Upcoming Trend In 2026?
According to the National Literacy Trust, ‘only 1 in 3 children and young people aged 8 to 18 say they enjoy reading in their free time’. With screen time offering entertainment in the form of games, videos and social media – it’s more important than ever to inspire an interest in reading. Schools are creating colourful, engaging and fantastical displays to pique the interest of learners. While displays might incorporate books featured in the curriculum, they are also designed to promote an interest in the authors and other titles to read for fun.
Bronte Academy Library Wall Art
Rivington and Blackrod Library Wall Art
Sandwell Learning Trust Library Wall Art
St. Patrick’s Catholic Primary School Library Wall Art
Where Can I Have A Book And Author Wall Display In My School?
Naturally fitting in well in libraries and English classrooms, book and author wall displays can be placed anywhere in your setting to ignite interest in getting lost in a story. To allow time for learners to take in the illustrations and text, placing them in an area accessible during free time, such as a library or common area, can be beneficial. Why not have multiple displays around your setting? Focusing on different authors or genres, catering to different ages and preferences.
What Are The Benefits Of A Book And Author Wall Display?
Book and author wall displays give an opportunity for educators to highlight influential authors and interesting reads without it feeling like a compulsory lesson-based task. When children and teens are able to explore and choose a book out of interest and preference rather than requirement, they are more likely to engage with it. These displays are also a great opportunity to showcase books of popular TV shows and films, playing on prior interest and knowledge.
Why Are School Wall Art Displays Important?
School wall art displays are a great way to inspire and engage learners, even during free time or class transitions. As well as being an opportunity to reaffirm school values, facts and information, these displays can be used to create an atmosphere perfect for learning. Displays don’t always need to be loud or full of text. Oceanscapes, fantasy forests or calming beaches can form a great space for reflection, thinking and regulating.
School Wall Art By Design for Education
Our wall art designs are fully bespoke, and our expert team will handle the design, manufacturing, and installation – all according to your unique needs, specification and budget.
Even if you’re not sure what you want just yet, our experienced team will support you through consultation and a free site survey to find the right solutions for your learners and space.
With an industry-leading 5-year guarantee, our bespoke wall display solutions are made to last no matter what life (or children) may throw at them. No more printing, using the staple gun or replacing torn posters! All materials are fire-rated and can be wiped clean, making them ideal for any area you’d like to adorn.
To speak to a member of the team about creating your dream school wall art, or about any of our other services like websites, video tours and signage, you can contact Design for Education today.
Request your free site survey to get started.