Teams of pupils will participate in creative workshops developing concepts that could influence the design of multi-million pound new buildings at three secondary schools in Peterborough on tomorrow as part of the city's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project.

Teams of 15 pupils from each of Ormiston Bushfield Academy, Stanground College and Orton Longueville School will participate in the ‘Brief Day’ at the KingsGate Conference Centre in Parnwell, Peterborough.

During the full-day workshop pupils will develop 'mood boards' reflecting elements of good design with the help of professional designers and illustrators.

"This process will stimulate the pupils' creativity and help them understand how good design can influence quality of life and the learning environment," said Brian Howard, Project Manager for the construction programme. "It may also inspire some pupils to pursue careers in architecture and building design."

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Tim Byles, Chief Executive of Partnerships for Schools, the government organisation responsible for delivering the national BSF programme, said: "I am pleased to see Peterborough’s BSF project engaging so proactively with pupils with the help of the Sorrell Foundation.

"Pupils are at the heart of every BSF scheme across the country and their input is vital in shaping the design of new schools. I look forward to seeing their vision become a reality as Peterborough continues on its journey to improve the life chances of its school children as well as benefiting the local community as a whole."

The workshop is the third stage of a ‘joinedupdesign’ programme arranged by the London-based Sorrell Foundation, which aims to inspire creativity in young people and improve quality of life through good design. During the first stage 'Challenge Day', the pupils received guidance from the Sorrell Foundation’s architects and designers in London on 20 October.

Work on building new £20 million premises for Ormiston Bushfield Academy is expected to begin in autumn 2010 with the new buildings ready for September 2012. This will permit an expansion in pupil numbers from just over 700 currently to around 950.

Construction of £40 million new premises at Stanground College and £20 million improvements at Orton Longueville School will follow around autumn 2011 with the new school buildings ready for the September 2013 academic year.

Completion of these projects will mean that all Peterborough's secondary schools will have benefited from multi-million pound improvement schemes in recent years, with £135 million having already been spent on schools in the north of the city.

(CD/KMcA)