By Mrs Swan (Head of Geography)

During the Autumn Term, Year 7 students were set an ambitious real-world challenge: acting as professional design teams hired by Bedford Council, they were asked to redesign five empty plots along Bedford High Street in order to create inclusive, welcoming spaces that would attract more visitors and better meet community needs. Their proposals had to balance creativity with practicality, considering accessibility, age-friendly design, cultural spaces, and how new developments could help people feel proud of and connected to the town centre.

From across the year group, twenty standout projects were shortlisted for a design showcase on Thursday 28th January, where students presented their ideas to a panel of external judges - an architect, a chartered surveyor, a Bedford councillor and a local business owner, alongside Mr Gracie (Deputy Head - Student Engagement and Welfare) and Mrs Gibson (Headmistress). Pupils were required to justify every design choice using geographical reasoning, such as improving footfall, safety, economic opportunities and the overall visitor experience.

The standard of work was exceptionally high. Students spoke confidently and eloquently about their visions for Bedford’s future. It was a fantastic celebration of thoughtful design and ambitious geographical thinking!