www.besustainablefool.co.uk

After the success of our initial workshops last week we returned to City School yesterday (25.10.2007) to once again work with the Year 7’s. This time the workshops were a little more architectural and creative with students being asked to make collages of the school showing changes that they thought might make the school ‘greener.’ They used some of the ideas that they had thought about last week in the ‘Top Trumps’ and ‘Carbon Detective’ workshops. 

• Work Shop 1: The cool board + Top Trumps Part 1

Break: The Green Room

• Work Shop 2: The cool board + Top Trumps Part 2
• Workshops 3: Quiz Part 1

Midday

Lunch: The Green Room + cool/ uncool board

• Workshops 4: Treasure Hunt
• Workshops 5: Quiz Part 2

Yawn…….

Its pretty dull stuff but its important to understand the demographic I think. Well thats how i justified looking at it.

I looked at the Handsworth ward to which the school belongs i believe.

Handsworth district demographic statistical summary: 

Total population:                       18664

Over 16 population:                  13062

Economically active:                  8441    (64%)

Economically inactive:   4621    (35%)

Of which unemployed:  448      (3.4%)

Retired:                                    2220    (16%)

Stay at home:                            782      (6%)

Sick/Disabled                           971      (7.4%)

 Qualifications

(of the 13062)

None:                                       5238   (40%)

Level 1 (one GCSE or equiv): 2560      (19%)

Level 2 (5+ GCSEs or equiv): 2258      (17%)

Level 3 (2+ A level or equiv): 669         (5%)

Level4/5 (First degree or:          1185    (9%)

    equiv)

Other:                                       1152    (8.8%)

 Population density 

Sheffield:                                  13.95 persons per hectare

Handsworth:                             27.33 persons per hectare

Meeting the Architects

Our little chat with the City School BSF appointed architects, HLM. Representing are Lucy Plumridge and AJ Taylor.

De-brief in crosspool tavern on meeting client’s Ken Dunn and Mariam Milroy at the school and a visit to Heeley City Farm (Energy Centre closed unfortunately – RGG made arrangements for group to meet with Energy Centre representative on 11th Oct.). 

Brief overview of previous meeting the day before for those not present.  Discusion of facebook group to be set up. Decided against as too many forms of communication, email and blog to remain main channels of communication.   

Agreed that all research findings should be briefly summarised and added to the project blog with links for further information and websites. 

Discussion was held re. the visit to the school.  It was felt by all members of the group that although developing something like the eco-garden is a fantastic opportunity and something of this type would be a great outcome for the project we would need to be certain of how beneficial it would be for the school and how it may address more global issues of sustainability within the BSF programme.  General consensus that further progression of the project will stem from consultation with the architect.  

Actions from meeting:

Arrange a discussion with Prue Chiles and her work on consultations with Barnsley Schools (action unassigned). Site photo’s to be put into project folder (action photographers) Specific research areas were identified and task areas nominated:

• Sustainable materials research, low-tech. (Rich).

• Casestudies on sustainable housing. (Angela).

• BSF programme and policies in sustainability, CABE guidelines, BREEAM. (Tom R).

• Sheffield City Council on policies and attitude towards sustainability & green ideas (Zoe).

• Carbon Zero technologies/precedents/requirements (John R).

• Cost issues (Tom M).

• Funding issues (Craig)  Craig to summarise research findings on local area demographics.

• School precedents. (Christian).

• Consultancy research particularly in student workshops (unassigned).

• Contact The Sorrell Foundation re. their previous work with the school and their findings (Tom R).

 It was agreed that those unable to attend meetings should make a point of contacting other members to notify them. 

TR confirmed with group that meeting with HLM (architects) will now take place on Monday at 10 am.  Tom R, Tom M, Craig and Zoe to attend.  Meet at arts tower entrance at 9.30 am.  Points to discuss as per previous meeting minutes.  Important to hear to hear their thoughts on the BSF programme – its potential, its disadvantages etc.   Check architects plan for school and their attitude towards delivering sustainability in their school designs and opinion on zero carbon school design.  Need to identify how we might be able to assist them in establishing a strong ethos of sustainability into the grain of the design process.  

Next meeting to be at 2 pm on Monday to discuss outcomes of meeting with architect.  Agenda for the meeting is to fully establish ‘the brief’ outlining our goals and outcomes.  Dependant on feedback from meeting with architects.  Make arrangements to make arrangements to arrange meeting with Taylor Woodrow (contractor).

 The City School entrance does not immediately implecate bad design or an unsuitablility for its current use, neither is it in any way inspiring as an institute for education and even less so as it becomes apparent that the built-on façade is not part of the City School at all, but a community use educational resource block retro-fitted about 8 years ago.  The addition in its purpose is extremly valuable as a facility but blocked all light into what were the art rooms, which have now subsequently become science labs.  The art rooms now sit behind closed blinds on the southern side, cutting off to the fantastic views of the rolling suburban landscape.  The school building, initially built for 900 pupils and now accommodates just less than 1500 pupils, is ill-prepared (and ill-equipped) to deliver the curriculum effectively for today’s and future standards of education.  Hence the building is due for redevelopment under the Building Schools for the Future programme.   The school visit gave a further insight into what we may want to achieve with our project, however although ideas discussed the brief this is still not entirely clear and work needs to be done to fully establish the brief and project’s ultimate goals.   The school has supported itself in the search for funding to provide bolt-on sustainability measures with the aim to achieve a Green Flag award in the Eco-Schools sustainability framework.  This incorporates implementing measures such as recycling facilities, green travel plans for the pupils and staff, as well as supplying renewable energy technologies.  It is commendable work and should be something that is encouraged for all schools however we feel as a group that our Live Project should target the social dimension of sustainability inherent in delivering the sustainable message and raising awareness as well as impacting on sustainability within the BSF programme. “Sustainability is not about bolt-on, its about integration.  It is like a stick of rock where sustainability runs right through the whole thing.” Clarifying exactly what constitutes a sustainable school is a major part of our project research.  The British Council for School Environments divides the subject into 3 main areas:  social, economical and environmental.  Socially the school must act an excellent resource for the community whilst also exemplifying sustainability principles.  Economically the school must have longevity, be affordable to build and maintain but add value in its ability to transform to meet the demands of future education methods.  Environmentally the school must minimise adverse impacts in construction and operation. 

The school has been working to produce an ‘eco-garden for growing food and educating the children and has sought funds from HSBC but the teachers involved have struggled to invest the necessary time to develop the project.  This, or something to this end, could be key opportunity for us to create real and physical thing at the school that may provide a valuable resource for both the school and the community.  However it is key that this is linked back into our research with the BSF programme.  Ken and Mariam’s primary objective seems to be raising awareness to pupils and members of the community of the importance of sustainability and their impact on the environment.  In making visual links between an ‘input’ into piece of ‘kit’ and its ‘output’ the processes are made clear and whole thing becomes demonstrably educational, thus enhancing over-all sustainability.  An eco-garden could be educational space that may also provide a resource to the wider community in the shape of courses or workshops based on conservational, ecological and environmental issues similar to those demonstrated at the Heeley City Farm.  The eco-garden could act as a test bed to demonstrate the potential for a larger community garden/sustainability farm project that could become developed with the new school building and incorporated into the wider BSF programme.    This could be launched with an opening ‘event’ that might coincide with the ‘Enterprise Week’ being held at the school…

City School Live Project  

Minutes of meeting 4^th  October 2007 

Location: studio

Present: members of Live Project Team  

Points of discussion:

• Meeting with the BSF architects (HLM) including AJ Taylor and Lucy Plumridge.
• Heeley city farm visit.
• City School visit

Before the meeting got underway CW voiced some possible issues related to the use of video camera usage, this can be discussed with Ken Dunn at the school on Friday 5^th October. 

Meeting with architects:

Agreed only 3-4 members of the group should go along, JR suggested this could be the 5^th years due to 6^th year commitments. Therefore CW, TM and TR are to attend the meeting with AJ Taylor and Lucy Plumridge. Points to be discussed:

1. What will be most beneficial to the architects on a strategic level?
2. What stage is the BSF scheme at currently?
3. When is City School due to commence in terms of design etc?
4. What are their attitudes towards the current BSF template and sustainability measures?
5. What levels of consultancy do they have with the school as clients?
6. What is their usual design process?

Heeley city Farm visit:

Find out if and where funding can be obtained for sustainable measures at the school. 

City School visit:

Discuss working with the community and students, possible workshops with students.Ask Ken Dunn about a site visit to Barnsley School. 

Plan of action:

Meet with Taylor Woodrow contractors , Arrange facebook group? 

Next Meeting: Springvale Tavern Friday 5^th Oct 

Planning of pupil consultation event.

City School Live Project 

 Minutes of meeting 3^rd October 2007 

Location: studio 

Present: members of Live Project Team and Jeremy Till  

The diagram of views of the project direction was explained to JT.  JT suggested that it might be preferable to focus on the strands between consultation/involvement of the school community and BSF policy (see diagram in studio). He suggested an alternative diagram of points of focus:  JT – although zero carbon might not be right (what constitutes a ‘sustainable school’?) this is part of our brief – about awareness 

JT – suggested that we should contact Lucy Plumridge and AJ Taylor at HLM Sheffield to find out from them what would strategically be useful (action TR) 

JT – will talk to Richard Simmonds at CABE on Monday suggesting that as a group we might create recommendations for the expansion of provision in BSF to include zero carbon schools as a case study (I think that’s what he said anyway!)  JT can also provide a contact with Paul Monaghan – CABE director for Sheffield and S Yorkshire -          CABE influence BSF so this can be a route to follow to open BSF beyond what it is currently doing JT suggested that there were three levels of what we could aim to achieve.  The bottom line would be an event in the school to educate about zero carbon – the second level would be working with architects, making sustainability a serious consideration, Ken continuing in a fundraising role – the third level would be a movement/proposal for an expansion of environmental provision in BSF.

Points for Action 

Initial case study investigation – Angela 

Redrawing mind map – John

 Demographic research – Craig 

Typing up minutes – Kirstin 

Checking no existing solid sustainability/carbon zero recommendations/stipulations available – Tom 

Drivers on Friday morning – Tom M and Rich Phoning

AJ Taylor and Lucy Plumridge – Tom R 

Phoning Heely City Farm – Rich  

Next Meetings Meeting Friday morning outside the Springvale pub at 8.30am Meeting Jeremy 4pm Tuesday 9^th October in the studio