Pioneering education initiative launched in Irvine Bay

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

The project fits under the ‘i live’ theme of Irvine Bay Regeneration Company’s vision for the area, and was launched to the pupils of Auchenharvie Academy on 29th October.

Around 250 first and second year pupils are being invited to research, design and present their ideas for social housing to a panel of experts, including local house-builder Billy Kirkwood of RobertRyan 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.

Following the presentation pupils were invited to join the Auchenharvie ECO Group and take the lead in this exciting project.

The programme will be rolled out to the pupils of Irvine Royal Academy on Wednesday 11 November.

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.”

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.”