Telford students find their talent

Telford students are re-designing an outdoor space at their school so it can be used for learning, recreation and wildlife. Originally set aside as a wildlife garden, the space is under-used and isolated – indeed, few students or teachers knew it was there. Through practical sessions and site visits, students have explored aspects of space and design, stretching their imaginations and aspirations to optimise the space: “I’ve learned that small ideas can turn into the biggest things” (Nathan P, Year 7).

Working with architect Alison Davies and creative professional Jeremy Brown, Ercall Wood College students developed the design brief and identified constraints and opportunities. They used maps and photographs to construct a topographic model and developed a whole-site sketch plan. They worked with artists to create bird sculptures outside, spent a day on-site on a wildlife photoshoot with a professional photographer, and put together an exhibition for an open evening.
The students have seen the potential to “do German outside and learn the words for outdoors things”, have a telescope to look at the stars, and do science experiments outdoors. They have suggested cameras to watch wildlife at night and want to create places “to talk to someone when you are upset or lonely”. The space has already been used as inspiration for science with students analysing water samples, and the neighbouring primary school has used it for an outdoor adventure.
Co-ordinated by MADE (the Midlands architecture centre) and funded through Find Your Talent, the next stage is for students to lead on funding bids, budgeting and project management to transform the space.

 

Ercall Wood College lesson plan  - second session

Redefine our collective objectives:
o We want to reclaim the space
o We want to create an outdoor classroom
o We want to share ownership List the positive and negative elements of the space.
Working in pairs use the ideas put forward last time; select the one we most want to progress.
List challenges & what we need to make things happen.
Wildlife / environmental Leisure / social / eating Gardening / planting Sensory / Creative / Sculpture / music / art
Identify ways forward – people who might help, what resources and what opportunities. (Group activity)
Draft a set of proposals which can inform the next stages:
o Awareness raising
o Design issues
o Fundraising and building capacity
o Sustainability
List potential allies in school and beyond.
Follow-up – internet research to identify suppliers

Site visits

The students walked outside their classroom to assess the constraints and opportunities of the wildlife garden, explored the art of the possible at the outdoor facilities at Penn Hall School in Wolverhampton, and investigated the principles of design at Telford’s Town Park.