IRVINE BAY - "Tomorrow's homes today"

An innovative new educational programme – “tomorrow’s homes today” ― is being launched in Irvine Bay.

The project fits under the ‘i live’ theme of the company’s vision for the area, and will be officially launched to the pupils on 11th November.

Around 150 pupils in Irvine Royal Academy’s first year will be invited to research, design and present their ideas for social housing to a panel of experts, including local house-builder Billy Kirkwood of Ryan Homes, who has agreed to incorporate appropriate elements into his designs.

Pupils will also use the ‘i live’ theme as the context for learning across the curriculum, providing an understanding of, and input to, their local area through study in subjects such as history, geography, art, technical subjects, science and social studies.

For example, the theme will be used in Modern Studies to learn about Social Housing; in ICT to create databases and spreadsheets; in Maths to carry out calculations for costing and design; in Technology and Art & Design pupils will learn how to design suitable models and products; in Science, they will relate their learning about environmental issues to housing; and in English, pupils will use the skills they have learned to persuade a group of experts that their design is worthy of consideration in the marketplace.

From an educational standpoint, the project will be highly effective in enhancing skills for life and work as outlined in the ‘Enterprise in Education’ agenda and will help to deliver the educational targets in the Scottish Government’s ‘Curriculum for Excellence’.

Patrick Wiggins, Chef Executive of Irvine Bay Regeneration Company said: “Working with schools in this way helps us engage at a really fundamental level with the local community. This provides a fantastic vehicle for people to learn more about their area, more about the work we are doing, and gives a real opportunity for them to have a genuine say.

“However it also has to be delivered in a way that provides real and measurable educational benefits for the students themselves, and this project is one of the most ambitious of its kind.”

Stirling Mackie, Head Teacher of Irvine Royal Academy said: “We have already worked successfully with Irvine Bay Regeneration Company in delivering projects to the curriculum around the company’s ‘i sea’ theme.

“This work will build on that success, and will allow us to widen the scope and scale of the learning for the pupils in a way that is interesting, entertaining and beneficial.”

The company’s vision for Irvine Bay is to create places where people will thrive, businesses will fourish and communities will grow.

The vision is developed through five key themes. These look at:

 i work ― creating and spreading wealth
 i live ― a good place to live
 i sea ― rediscovering the sea
 i play ― a good place to spend time
 i bay ― changing the image of the Irvine Bay area

Each of these themes connects with a series of proposed projects and with the masterplans for the urban regeneration of each of the towns.

Patrick Wiggins of Irvine Bay added: “We believe that through re-discovering the coast and our connections to Glasgow, we will see community regeneration create a vibrant Irvine Bay with a strong economy, a high quality of life and an improved environment.”

AGENDA

1.40pm

Welcome................Stirling Mackie,Head Teacher

An introduction to Irvine Bay..........Kirsty Innes,( Irvine Bay Regeneration Company )

An introduction to the programme......Anne Marie McGowan,
( CfE Co-ordinator )

1.50pm

The challenge...........Billy Kirkwood ( Robert Ryan Homes )

2.00pm

Event ends


Invitees are invited to stay a little longer as the young people work in groups to gather their ideas.