Pupil's grand designs on school future

Released: 20 June 2008

Pupils from across Wolverhampton have been having their say on the £300 million scheme that will revolutionise education in the city.

The Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme will see a transformation of secondary education with all schools modernised and new academies created.

Young people from 17 of the schools set to benefit from BSF have been given the opportunity to have a major input in their new-look facilities. Two youngsters from each school have been selected to become ‘pupil client ambassadors’ to act as a voice for their peers in the design process.

For several weeks they have been busy canvassing the opinions of their fellow pupils on issues such as what colour schemes to use, the layout of the school, social spaces, reception areas, toilet facilities, reputation and identity. They also enjoyed a day out in London in the hope they would be inspired by some of the capital’s most impressive buildings.

Yesterday (Thursday 19 June 2008)) the pupil/client ambassadors gathered at Wolverhampton Art Gallery to share their ideas with professional architects. Suggestions included making more use of the outdoors for lessons, dining and social spaces, getting more technology in the classroom and creating relaxing areas for pupils to refresh and recharge their brains at break time.

The ideas were put down onto ‘mood boards’ and presented to an assembled audience of dignitaries and education representatives. The boards will now be sent off to a specialist company who will use them to create design briefs.

Roy Lockwood, the city council’s director for children and young people, said: “Building Schools for the Future is going to transform secondary education in Wolverhampton, we are talking about investment on a huge scale of £300 million. The most important people in all this are our young people who are the future of this city. I am delighted that they are able to have a major say in what will go into the new buildings.”

The pupil client ambassador scheme saw the city divided into five geographical sectors and schools from each area worked together. The schools taking part were as follows:

• Aldersley High
• Our Lady and St Chad’s
• Pendeford
• Northicote
• Westcroft
• Deansfield
• Moseley Park
• Parkfield High
• Colton Hills
• Highfields
• Smestow
• Heath Park
• St. Edmund's
• St. Peter's
• Kings
• Wolverhampton Girls High
• Midpoint.

The scheme was coordinated by The Sorrell Foundation which specialises in inspiring creativity in young people and improving quality of life through good design.

Issued by the press office.