Ridgewaye Centre

West Kent Learning Federation. 23rd April - 9th May 2007 (7 days)

The aim of the project at the Ridgewaye Centre was to engage the pupils in improving a disused, dilapidated and effectively "out of bounds" tarmac area to the rear of the building into an area that would be both pleasant and useful to the teachers and pupils at the centre. Pupils and staff were involved at all stages of the project from design through to construction. The project involved 11 pupils aged 11 - 14. Each pupil is at risk from permanent exclusion and has been referred to the centre from other schools in the area due to their challenging behaviour. Generally the wish was to provide a place for outdoor activity or sport and "to make it look like a garden". The staff were very keen to have an area that was aesthetically pleasing and could be used for teaching / school based learning as well as serving as a safe "chill out area" that pupils could use. The materials budget for the project was £900, provided by the School Sports Co-ordinator Scheme - Tonbridge. The area was improved through the installation of additional seating, painting of benches and perimeter fencing and the construction of raised beds (wood, tyres and railway sleepers), a bird table and trellising. A badminton court, a hopscotch board and putting green were painted onto the ground and a football goal and targets were painted onto a wall. The school plans to apply for funding from Sainsbury's to provide sports equipment. Mosaics were designed and made by pupils and set into the tarmac. Additional planting and the construction of a pond, a compost bin and a bench improved the area under the tree, the raised beds were planted with herbs and vegetables to promote an interest in horticulture, healthy eating and to link in with popular cookery classes. Press cutting