Local schools participate in joint architecture challenge with Royal Institute of British Architects

10 Year 9 pupils from Francis Holland and 10 from St Marylebone School worked together over the course of a few months in early 2023 to create presentations on current buildings at St Marylebone School, completing briefs on how they would change them to make them more sustainable and fit for purpose.

As well as developing new friendships and having a lot of fun, our pupils and St Marylebone pupils practiced skills such as collaboration, planning and public speaking. They also learned about career routes into architecture, sustainability in architecture and ways to incorporate plants and eco-friendly materials into buildings and renovations.

Aims

Firstly, for students to gain knowledge about careers in architecture, with a particular focus on sustainability in architecture. Secondly, for students to develop important life skills such as collaboration, planning, problem-solving and presentation. Thirdly, to forge new friendships and learn from other schools’ ways and means.

Background

The Senior Leadership Teams of FHS and St Marylebone know each other well and are keen to work together for the success of girls across both schools. Architecture is a field in which many students are keen to work and we are very grateful to RIBA for this opportunity.

Resources

FHS offers Stretch & Challenge enrichment time, preparation time and teaching time to this project.

Impact

The impact is quantitative to the tune of over 10 pupils from FHS and 10 from St Marylebone. It is also qualitative in terms of seeing improvements in presentation skills, public speaking and other soft skills, as well as building pupils’ knowledge about architecture and sustainability.

Pupil Involvement

10 pupils in Year 9 from St Marylebone and 10 from FHS

Frequency

Annual - takes place over a couple of months