Pupils from Auchenharvie Academy and Irvine Royal Academy presented their innovative ideas to a panel of experts this week as part of the ground-breaking education project – “tomorrow’s homes today”.

The project fits under the ‘i live’ theme of Irvine Bay Regeneration Company’s vision for the area, and was launched to the pupils in October 2009, and challenged the pupils to design and present their ideas for modern, social housing for the Irvine Bay area.

The panel was headed up by local house-builder Billy Kirkwood of RobertRyan Homes. Impressed with the standard of ideas, Billy said: “The ideas presented have been outstanding. They have worked hard on this project and have shown commitment and enthusiasm throughout. It has been a pleasure working with them.”

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From an educational standpoint, the project has been highly effective in enhancing skills for life and work as outlined in the ‘Enterprise in Education’ agenda and delivered the educational targets in the Scottish Government’s ‘Curriculum for Excellence’. The ‘i live’ theme was also used as a context for learning across the curriculum, providing an understanding of, and input to, their local area through study in subjects such as art, technical subjects and social studies.

As part of the project Billy Kirkwood invited the young people to visit his Hawkshill House housing development in Largs last week. Billy gave them a day out to remember as he showed them round the development, providing a real source of inspiration. The visit was rounded off nicely with a visit to Nardini’s.

Art teacher, Stewart from Irvine Royal Academy said: “We learned so much on our visit to the housing development in Largs – it really did demonstrate to the pupils that what we do in school IS relevant to the world outside.”

May Hendrie, maths teacher at Irvine Royal Academy added: “The school is very proud of the work the youngsters have produced and they will obviously go far given their performance today.”

(GK)