Ford Facade | Re-shaping the Ford narrative
Enabling Spaces
Ford Primary has a mix of old buildings (1800s) and newer add-ons (1970s+). The building arguably lacks a sense of coherence in both design and decoration.
It's a great school, and we are keen to work with our community to increase its sense of learning and how the grounds help this flow.
Its use, over time, has changed from boarding to day school and incorporates a nursery and early space.
There are pockets of well-designed brilliance, but we believe that if we work in partnership with the community, we can inject a new lease of life and sense of deliberate design - all based on learning.
Ford Primary also has minimal outside green space. Less than 8 square meters in total. Our team intend to use grants such as the RHS grant to turn grey spaces green.
This compliments work by EYFS team leaders to transform their small and limited outside space into a place where learning can thrive. We have also partnered with Mayflower Community Academy to share learning spaces and get in creased access to learning in the natural environment (further information on this joint school permaculture project can be found here.
Lots can be done to transform the current space into a haven for positive learning experiences that support enquiry and play.
A recent good Ofsted grading gives Ford staff the platform to build on and create something that increases the chances of positive and purposeful child development.
Updating Ford's Facade
Our vision is to update and improve the front facade of the school. We will consider both the internal and the external aspects of this area. This will have an immediate impact on the EYFS learning spaces and will bring a fresh opportunity to create more enabling learning spaces. It will also create a fresher and more relevant community-facing link via the external fence.
Internal Fencing
Our plan is to work with the materials already in place - needs to continue to be wood so we can fix into the surround and enhance the learning opportunities for Early Years Foundation Stage.
External Fencing
This needs to be a material that we can re-design to create a more welcoming and relevant front-facing image. Artists could be commissioned to bring the community together and create a new fresh look for the school.
Facade of school wall
The school is a mix of brick and old paint plus plastic coatings (dark red). This would benefit from some coherence and updating. The paint is flaking off and looks very tired and dirty.
Materials | We need...
If you can help us secure any of the following materials - please do let us know. The biggest extra set of materials that we need - urgently is bright paint.
Community Engagement
We have created a basic timeline of work that we will now engage with our community on. This project will evolve and adapt as we move through it. The community will help us to shape how it develops and at what pace.
Days 1 & 2: Project Preparation (Planning & Coordination, Materials & Outreach): This involves finalising the project brief, planning the workshops, confirming the paint process and products, and designing and promoting the workshops.
Day 3: Workshop 1 (Community Facing – "What do we want to say?"):** This will involve creative consultation with pupils, parents, and the community to establish themes, colours, words, and patterns for the mural.
Day 4: Workshop 2 (Community Facing – Design Development): This session will focus on refining themes and visuals for the panels based on the input from the first workshop.
Day 5: Digital Design Development: I will translate the workshop output into practical designs for the panels and pull together all elements for the final design, including creating design masters for production. Artwork sign-off from the school team/community will also be sought.
Days 6 - 10: Workshops and painting sessions alongside parents will take place leading to the launch.
