Newbattle Community High : Participation Project

getting to know...

Newbattle Community Newbattle Community High High

“ around & about ...

exploring the external facilities and surrounding area... ...We were invited to work with the pupils to explore through notes, mapping, and observations what the pupils thought about the school in its wider context. ...In the first workshop, we explored the setting of the school, existing facilities in the neighbourhoods, and the character of the neighbourhoods.

Most importantly, we wanted to find out what is of value, and what changes the pupils wanted to see in their neighbourhoods.

... where we’re from Pupils come to school from a number of different places: Newtongrange Mayfield Gorebridge Easthouses North Middleton Penicuik Dalkeith.

Easthouses Newbattle Community High Mayfield Newtongrange

They travel to school in a variety of ways – but a lot of the pupils arrive by bus, and a lot walk.

Gorebridge

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what we did... we made maps which marked places that the pupils know about, tapping into and recording their local knowledge as well as their thoughts and feelings about these places

...what’s there now... our facilities There are a number of facilities in the area 1.

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Community Centre (Y2K) Leisure centre Skate park Sports centre Soccer City Astro pitches at Welfare Park Swimming pool playing fields and pitches.

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7 These are spread out across the area and pupils tend to go to the places closer to their home. Pupils who travel further to come to school will often go back home and use the facilities closest to them.

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...what’s there now... places to eat 12

There are a number of different places to go for lunch –

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9. chip shop 10. bakery / Mayfield shops 11. burger van 12. Easthouses shops / post office 13. Trenches

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... but most are not very close to the school, pupils wish there were more opportunities of different types of places to go and eat.

... which of these places we visit a lot

... and the places we don’t like.

Some spaces, such as Newtongrange Park, are less popular because of a lack of opportunities for sport, and they are not as well maintained. There are some places around the school (Bryan’s wood) which are scary, and there are areas locally that the pupils don’t like to walk through on the route to school.

Easthouses Park

Bryan’s Wood

Newtongrange Park

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what we did... we asked the students to make collages, selecting the images which represented things, places, or feelings which they liked, and asked them to explain why they’d chosen them.

what we want.

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We want places which are creative, fun and cool

places which can be used for creative arts ... and sculptures you can climb and sit on.

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We want things that will make the school look nice

... colourful places which feel happy

... and a water feature which is relaxing.

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We need a lot of outdoor activities

better playing fields

wider variety of sports opportunities... and places to sit and watch people play sports

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We want places to go and sit down with friends

- fun places like skate parks... and nice walkway areas

“ on the inside ...

exploring the key elements and features of the existing school We ran a second workshop, on the 6th December, where we focused on the good and the bad things within the school buildings.

Some things are good and some are bad, and some ‘could do better!

We looked at the various learning spaces, both individual and large group spaces, and the connections in between them.

The PE department, which also houses the S6 common room (Ozone) is really popular with the pupils

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good It’s a place for the seniors to hang out, without all the younger pupils being there too.

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It’s big, spacious, and has lockers.

They like that it sits within the PE department, because the PE staff sit with the pupils.

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the PE department / Ozone

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The Bite Site is generally unpopular with the pupils...

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It’s cramped, busy, and cold.

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It is an unsuitable space to study during study period.

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It should serve a better variety of food of higher quality.

The Bite Site

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good

The library is generally seen as a good space...

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It’s warm and comfortable, with a computer suite. good

But... its too small, dated and often gets double booked, which is why pupils they have to go and study in the Bite Site.

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the library

The pupils don’t like all the stairs and routes around the school – the doors in the corridors make them more congested, the stairs get really busy, the underpass is cold, dark and feels unsafe because people hang out there.

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The corridors are too narrow and dull – and because they are so hectic, some pupils feel they don’t have time to stop and read the notices.

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Generally thebad pupils feel the school is too small and cramped. bad

the corridors

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good

The reception is a good space – and the pupils want the bell from the old school moved to the new school because everyone knows what it is, and it’s a key meeting point in the school

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A bad point is that the toilets are locked, and it’s embarrassing to have to ask for the key. bad

the reception area

The hall is generally viewed as a good space because of all the dances, exhibitions and concerts –

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good

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but it’s too small for the school, it’s dated, and really dull. bad

the school hall

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good

The pupils really like all the trips with after school clubs, and are proud of the sense of community at the school – ‘don’t let them build something to ruin the community’ – the way the staff and pupils mix, it’s key!

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good

our sense of community

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what we want...

After mapping the school, we began to imagine what else is possible. We made pin boards with images of things we thought would be good for our new school.

what we want...

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We would like social areas where we can go chill out and relax

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We want spacious seating spaces in a number of different places, with a cool appearance

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Wi-fi areas, enclosed study spaces, relaxed quiet spaces –for different age groups to hang out or to study

what we want...

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We would like an eating area which is open planned with comfy seats in clusters.

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We would like to have outside areas too, where we can eat and sit with friends

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We want the classrooms to be interesting, colourful, light, inspirational and fun