November 12 2008 

Pupils and student spruce up school 

Pupils at Southampton's Bevois Town Primary School are facing the future with renewed vigour – after giving their school a fantastic new facelift.

The Year R to Year 6 pupils worked with Southampton Solent University graduate, Melissa Towers, and top architect Matt Dearlove of Blocwork, to completely redesign the inside of the school – which had barely seen a lick of paint in 25 years!

The project – supported through the government's Creative Partnerships – was designed to improve pupil performance, parental engagement and a sense of self worth by giving pupils a chance to choose their own school environment. 

The challenge began more than a year ago when pupils had top level consultation with architect, Matt Dearlove. They talked about how they could best get the school's ethos across through the use of space. 

They came up with words and colours for different classrooms, and then brought in Melissa Towers, a final-year student in Interior Design at Southampton Solent University. 

Melissa took the pupils' design ideas and, after consulting with parents as well, created the finished result – bright, innovative, themed classrooms. Pupils were delighted to come back to the newly decorated classrooms and corridors after the summer holidays, and now, with the completion of the hall, they are proudly showing visitors round their work of art. 

Bevois Town Head Teacher, Harrie Atkinson, said: "The school was in desperate need of re-decorating, and to do it through such a pupil-led project, utilising the talents of Melissa and Matt, has been incredible. Pupils and parents are so proud of the school – and their crucial part in its decoration has fostered a real sense of belonging."

Melissa Towers added: "Working with the children was fantastic. Their ideas were vibrant, and their feedback brilliant."

For more information contact the Press Office, Southampton Solent University on 023 8031 9079