Leeds school wins classroom make-over to create a learning space for the future
18 March 2009
Morley Newland Primary School in Leeds was announced as winner of the 'Design My Learning Space' competition at BSEC 09, the school will benefit from having the design implemented in a project undertaken by Northgate Managed Services, EC Harris, Wates Construction.
Morley Newland Primary School in Leeds was announced as winner of the 'Design My Learning Space' competition at the Building Schools Exhibition and Conference (BSEC) 2009 by its chairman Professor Stephen Heppell. The school will now benefit from having the design implemented in a project undertaken by Northgate Managed Services, EC Harris, Wates Construction.
The competition attracted over 130 entries from years five to eight across the North of England and gave the pupils an opportunity to play an active role in designing their own learning space and explaining how this would impact on achieving better learning outcomes. The right learning environment can make a real difference to delivering better learning outcomes, and even bigger benefits can be seen when young people play an active role in shaping their own space. The competition provided an opportunity for pupils to develop a concept for a learning space, with Morley Newland Primary School design team winning the chance to see their scheme implemented in their school.
Competition sponsor, David Hyland, Managing Director, Education, Northgate Managed Services commented: “We are delighted to be working so closely with students as part of this competition, student opinion is vitally important so that we continue to engage excite and motivate learners. Technology is a hugely significant part of education today, through innovative resources and modern technologies we encourage new styles of teaching and learning.”
The winning entry was entitled 'Research and Relaxation - Bringing the Outside Inside' and the entry explained: "If we were able to transform our classroom it would open up our space, introduce more light and be a brilliant classroom to work in." The colourful design outlined specific work areas into blue and green zones with ICT integrated into the desk spaces. They created seating areas outside of the classroom to make the outdoors an additional 'learning space.
Mr Adrian Stygall, Headteacher, Morley Newland Primary commented: “The children were captivated by this competition, and very well led by a member of our superb support staff. The investment in the school will make a real difference to our mixture of a 1950s building and outside classrooms. We are really looking forward to working with the competition partners so that the children can realise their dreams for a new classroom.”
