Pupils from Ernulf Academy in St Neots completed a unique and engaging work experience programme at the Wintringham development that immersed them in the dynamic world of the built environment. During the week, the three Year 10 students participated in a variety of sessions designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the diverse careers of the Urban&Civic team and their design and delivery partners as they create St Neot’s newest community.
The project team from Urban&Civic, master developer for Wintringham, engaged the students in the challenges and opportunities of large-scale development and all the things that need to be worked out in design and planning, then delivered and maintained. From designing homes to achieve sustainability targets and planning green spaces to support habitat creation for local priority species, to designing in and restoring existing historic waterways such as Hen Brook and Wintringham Brook, and new water systems to provide places resilient to climate change and flooding.
The students were able to explore the play areas that provide doorstep space for local children and cycle around the leisure trail and site-wide footpaths and cycle routes, which help people get about the development sustainably and connect up to routes to St Neots and further afield.
They were also challenged to design a new place supported by David Lock Associates planners and using bespoke interactive ‘CHLOE’ software. The pupils unleashed their imaginations to design their own new communities, whilst considering all the different elements that make up a sustainable and desirable place to live.
The students also spent time with the Barratt and David Wilson Homes’ site team, exploring the Discovery House to see what goes on behind the scenes of a modern house and trying their hand at bricklaying.
With seven timber footbridges in place in the development so far, one standout moment was the challenge of building a bridge strong enough to roll a tennis ball over using dried spaghetti and marshmallows. The activity not only fostered teamwork, but demonstrated how the maths and physics learnt at school is a valuable tool for future careers in design, engineering and project management.
I really enjoyed my work experience week at Urban&Civic. I particularly enjoyed the sessions on master design and planning, the bridge building task, and spending time on site with the housebuilders learning what goes into building a house. My dream is to become an architect and I look forward to following this career path.
Ella McCormick, Ernulf student