Accrington Academy

What started out as a competitive workshop in May of 2009 involving 160 Year 7, 8 and 9 students has now progressed to a real life sustainable construction project.

With the guidance of COYO, a group of winning students formed their very own company, aptly called 'Roots', and attended intensive surveying, architecture and landscaping sessions resulting in a final design which was submitted for planning approval just before the students broke up for this Summer holidays this year.

They returned in September to discover their application had been successful, and are now looking forward to constructing their Eco Classroom in the grounds of the school.

Also in September, the students entered their design in the Council for Education Facility Planners International architectural Design Concept competition, and as a result, four of the students represented Accrington Academy in San Jose, California. The students were a massive hit, presenting in front of a few hundred architects and education advisors. Read more at http://blog.garethl.com/2010/09/learner-voice-accrington-academy-stuns.html. Gareth Long is a leading education specialist and independent consultant who possesses a highly regarded expertise in education transformation and school leadership. We are extremely proud and excited to announce that Gareth will be working with COYO and Accrington Academy in the coming months.

The students are now project managing the entire process, from interviewing potential contractors, issuing their own Pre Qualification Questionnaire, attracting funding and sponsorship, and procuring materials and building supplies. They will form an essential part of the project team, and take on the roles of lawyers, construction managers, accountants, quantity surveyors, land surveyors, site engineers and a whole host of other exciting careers. When the project is complete, they will also take responsibility for monitoring and reporting of energy, water and waste.

Chloe Dunne of Year 9 commented "I feel part of something special in the school, rather than 'just another student'. We're actually getting credit and being recognised directly, rather than it just being just an ordinary school organised project."

The students are now about to embark on the exciting new COYO programme of design which introduces them to Building Information Modelling. Using innovative Autodesk® software, they will soon be able to replicate their building in 3D.

This project is the first student led building programme and a fantastic learning opportunity for the school. Watch this space for the live webcam link to site.

For more details, visit www.rootscoyo.posterous.com