New Year, New School, New Ideas

12.00.00am GMT Fri 20th Jan 2006

Pupils, parents and the wider school community have participated in a one day 'Design Festival' to help to inform the design and development of a much-needed new school in Bletchley.

Following success in a recent round of bidding to central Government for money, Milton Keynes Council has secured funding to completely rebuild Water Hall Primary school.

On 16 January, an 'idea storming day' involving pupils, parents, governors and other members of the local community, together with education experts School Works, came up with design ideas and aspirations for the new school. A series of fun and interactive workshops were held, each focusing on a particular theme. 75 people participated in the day-long event (45 adults and 30 pupils from the school).

Councillor Euan Henderson, cabinet member responsible for building new schools, said: "This is the first time in Milton Keynes we will have completely replaced an existing school and this presents a fantastic opportunity to engage with the school community about what they want from their new facilities.

"Water Hall has served the local community admirably in the past, but we now need to look to the future to provide more up-to-date facilities for our children. And what better way than involving them, as well as their parents, governors and teachers in designing the school that they want?"