A project 'worth developing your literacy skills for'
As an Enquiry School Paignton Community and Sports College wanted to focus on developing and expanding their ability to deliver cross curricula theme based work in Year 7. They wanted to look to at how this cross-curricular approach could promote and encourage literacy, develop learning skills through real opportunities and raise the aspirations of pupils; giving them the chance to engage with practitioners and organisations outside their immediate community.
Aim
Although improving literacy was identified as the core goal, the focus for the work was on developing compelling opportunities where communication and using literacy became a natural part of the process; the sorts of projects and work 'worth developing your literacy skills for'.
Process
With this in mind, the year group was split into specialist groups based on their interest and the specialisms and skills of teaching staff. Each group formed their own company and came up with a communications campaign culminating in a year group event.
The first task set for each company was to investigate things that matter to their community. Each group researched and chose an issue then worked with a communications agency to support them in planning, developing and pitching their campaign; employing PR stunts, live performances, public challenges and anything else that they wanted to raise the profile of their issue and how they are going to address it.
Once ready, the companies pitched their ideas to a panel of professionals and following feedback, advice and suggestions to develop the campaign, before giving the final sign off to take the campaign forward.
A successfully selected campaign, 'Transformations' was focused on Paignton and what it would take to dramatically transform the skyline of the town. Starting with an 'Apprentice' style challenge, Year 7 students had just a few hours to create a concept for a defined space within their own town. They had to consider the requirements for the building, the usage, the target market and the benefits that the new property would bring to the community. They then built a small scale model and perform a short presentation to a panel of experts.
Among the visionary buildings were a number of imaginative hotels, a family activity centre and an education and environment centre. Judged by an award-winning architectural practice, the pupils received valuable feedback and input on their work and the models and presentations went on to form part of a whole year group exhibition on 7 May 2010, when 270 of the school's 12 and 13 year-old students took over Paignton Zoo for the day, reworking the space as an exhibition and performance ground for their creative work.
Impact
Through the Transformation project, the pupils worked in real contexts with professionals in the communications and architectural industries, developed new cross-curricular learning skills and broadened their understanding of environmental, social and community issues. Their work also had a positive impact on the community that surrounds them and the Paignton Zoo takeover day developed this still further, opening up a dialogue between the pupils and the community.
Quotes
"This enquiry project, mixed with our creatively fuelled 'Fabulous Fridays' is all about empowering our students to be inspired by true creativity and through that process, develop a whole new range of literacy, communications and team working skills. The first kick-off day has been an almighty success and myself and teachers cannot wait to see what ideas the children come up with to quite literally transform Paignton Zoo in May." Mrs Marilyn Newton, Assitant Principal, Paignton Community and Sports College.
"I couldn't believe it when they said that we were going to be allowed to create our own buildings in just one day. It was really interesting to be able to think about what we could build and why we would buld something if we were just allowed to go and do it. We had to think and work really, really fast but that's what made it all so fun and it was brilliant to see what all the other kids came up with. Now it would be awesome to see if we could actually get someone to build one of our own creations." Year 7 Pupil.
