Hands-on Design, Real-World Learning

Last week, Stephen George + Partners (SGP) chaired another inspiring session with Year 8 students at Oulton Academy as part of our ongoing collaboration with Veronica Heaven at The Heaven Company.

This time, we rolled up our sleeves and stepped into the world of model making, a new experience for many of the students. Over nearly two hours, the classroom transformed into a workshop of creativity, focus, and new skills.

Most of the students had never worked with scalpels, cutting mats, or foamboard before, as model making is typically a Year 9 subject. But this group embraced the challenge with maturity and excitement. After a full safety briefing and guided demos, they confidently got to work. Aprons on, tools in hand, they knew this was a unique opportunity and they rose to the occasion.

What stood out most was their awareness. Students were already thinking critically about materials, sustainability, and waste reduction, demonstrating how our sustainability-focused design lessons are truly taking root.

This session builds on our earlier masterclasses on masterplanning, layout, sustainability, and interiors, where our team, Alistair Branch, Ross Hennigan, Lyndon Johnson, and Rachel Trend, brought different dimensions of architecture to life in the classroom.

As part of the SGP + You initiative, this project continues to highlight our belief in architecture as a catalyst for education, empowerment, and community impact. We’re not just teaching architecture; we’re showing young people how they can shape the world around them.

To read more visit: https://www.stephengeorge.co.uk/masterplanning-tomorrow-how-sgp-is-inspiring-young-designers-at-oulton-academy/